Vibrant intangible cultural heritage activities and time-honored folk performances have unfolded across China to mark the millennium-old Qingming Festival.
During the Qingming Festival -- also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day -- which dates back over 2,500 years, it is traditional for Chinese people to return to their hometowns to pay respects to their ancestors and deceased loved ones. This year, the festival fell on Friday.
In Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, located in central China's Hunan Province, local ethnic minority communities not only sweep graves to pay tribute to their individual ancestors but also hold a grand singing celebration to honor their shared ancestors.
On Friday, the annual singing event during the Qingming Festival was held in Jishou, a county-level city in the prefecture. The Miao people living in the city and its neighboring areas gathered on the mountain and by the river, wearing exquisite festive attire, to commemorate their ancestors and enjoy family reunions with melodious singing.
"As long as there are people at the event who are listening attentively and still remember the melody, our culture will never be lost," said Gong Xiangyuan, a performer.
The event was inscribed on list of provincial-level intangible cultural heritage in Hunan in 2006. Since then, the gathering has become more vibrant, with various performances added to the commemoration.
In Xinshi, an ancient water town in east China's Zhejiang Province, a Silkworm Flower Temple Fair opened on Friday. The event is one of the most representative folk customs during the Qingming Festival in this silk-producing province, held to pray for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest.
Amid a bustling sedan chair parade, "silk blossom fairies" adorned in traditional attire scattered flowers and candies to the crowd, symbolizing farmers' hopes for a prosperous silk season.
"It's my first time attending. It gave me a chance to directly learn about my hometown's silkworm culture," said Ji Leyi, a visitor.
This year's temple fair also featured an innovative robotic dog show, wowing visitors with a striking fusion of traditional folklore and modern technology.
In Hua'an County of Zhangzhou City, in east China's Fujian Province, a carnival-like parade took place around a typical Tulou--a Hakka earthen building with a history spanning over 200 years. The energetic Yingge dance, which blends opera, dance, and martial arts, further heightened the festive atmosphere.
"The local people are involved, and there are many visitors from out of town. I'm also participating as a visitor, filming the experience," Lei Lanfang said.
The picturesque Wujiang Village in Zunyi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, offered holidaymakers the chance to learn traditional crafts and create their own unique souvenirs. Visitors could dye a blue-and-white dress, assemble a festive lantern or a bamboo-framed paper kite, and handcraft herbal paper with freshly picked flowers.
Vibrant intangible cultural heritage activities held across China to mark Qingming Festival
