China-inspired samba show thrills revelers at Brazil's Carnival

Leading the Chinese-themed parade was a theatrical staging of the Monkey King, known as Sun Wukong in Chinese, a central character in the 16th-century novel "Journey to the West."

The initial float featured a giant dragon and recreations of the Summer Palace, as samba dancers shimmied to the beat of Brazilian batucada and whirled traditional Chinese fans.

Drummers were dressed as Xi'an terra cotta warriors in shiny golden costumes that were brought all the way from China by Cristiano Bara, the school's artistic director and creator of the theme, and Adilson Jose Souza, president of Unidos de Vila Maria.