Annual river lantern event held in Shandong's county

Over 30,000 people recently gathered in Yanggu county – located in East China's Shandong province – to participate in the third annual river lantern event.

On the nights of the Hungry Ghost Festival, folks light up river lamps and release them onto the Jindi River to remember and honor their deceased relatives.

Much like Halloween in the West, the Hungry Ghost Festival takes place during the seventh lunar month and the most important days of this month are the 14th and 15th, the days of the great feasts. 

The river lantern event in Jindouying town in Yanggu county provided an opportunity for the community to express their wishes and blessings.

Attendees wrote down their wishes on the blessing wall, which were then placed in the river lanterns and released onto the river.

A view of the colorful river lanterns. [Photo by Wu Qi and Tu Shichao for chinadaily.com.cn]

The event was said to promote community spirit and to help vitalize the countryside through the showcasing of traditional Chinese virtues.

In recent years, Yanggu county has leveraged its cultural resources. Various competitions have been organized to enrich cultural activities – with participants using songs, dance, operas and musical instruments to interpret traditional filial piety and positive stories. (Edited by Jin Yongxue)