Lantern in ancient painting is a folk dance of Han nationality, which perfectly combines dance, lantern song, gongs and drums, duet and emotional group dance. According to historical records, ancient painting lamps originated from Xia Dynasty at the earliest and Song Dynasty at the latest. After the development of the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties and the Republic of China, a broadcasting area centered on Bengbu, Huainan and Fuyang in Anhui and radiating to more than 20 counties and cities in Henan, Anhui, Shandong and Jiangsu provinces in the middle reaches of the Huaihe River was formed in the 1930s and 1940s.
On May 20th, 2006, the ancient painting lanterns were approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage, and the heritage number was III-6.
According to legend, Flower Drum Lantern originated in Xia Dynasty. Dayu became a vassal at the foot of Tushan Mountain and married Nv Jiao, the daughter of Tushan Mountain. Soon after Dayu got married, he went out to fight water conservancy for the whole world. For thirteen years, Dayu passed by his house three times, but he didn't enter. Nv Jiao misses Dayu very much. Every day, he holds his son and stands on the hillside overlooking the distance, wishing her husband success in fighting floods and returning as soon as possible.