Brilliance of the brave

Each performance needs about 300 kilograms of molten iron, which he sources from scrapyards.

"I wear the sheepskin coat inside out so it is not easily ignited when the sparks hit it," he says.

His straw hat is specially designed with a wide downward brim so sparks will roll off it without it burning.

But the high-risk tradition is still only reserved for the brave.

During a performance a few years ago, Wang suffered severe burns on his leg and he took two months to recover.

An intangible cultural heritage of Hebei province, the show is presented only in Nuanquan, which was founded in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) as a garrison town for Beijing.

Then, the iron-making industry flourished in the township as it was a base for making weapons.

Blacksmiths drew inspiration from the sparks and amused themselves by throwing molten iron at walls during the festive season.

Both Wang's father and grandfather were blacksmiths.

"I learned the craft from my father. When I was young, I thought it was exciting. But years later I also felt it was my responsibility to pass it on to the next generation," he says.

"I have two sons, and I made my younger son learn the craft. He has to learn otherwise it will be lost."

The art of dashuhua requires extraordinary courage, skill and strength. A single scoopful of iron weighs more than two kilograms.

The molten iron fireworks performance has now become a major tourist attraction.