Grand Canal Bazaar celebrates Chinese New Year in Linqing

A view of the lively atmosphere at the Grand Canal Bazaar. [Photo provided by Yin Jianzhong/for chinadaily.com.cn]

On Jan 7, the 2025 Shandong Grand Canal Bazaar officially kicked off at the picturesque Grand Canal Scenic Park, also known as Dongwan Garden, in Linqing city, coinciding with the traditional Chinese Laba Festival. The event attracted nearly 10,000 visitors, offering a mix of local culture, food, and entertainment in celebration of the approaching Chinese New Year.

A dragon dance performance is held at the Grand Canal Bazaar. [Photo provided by Zhang Zishui/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Attendees explored the scenic canal, browsed the bustling bazaar, and enjoyed a wide array of cultural performances. Highlights included the lively song-and-dance show Grand Canal Bazaar and the folk opera Canal Ballad, which portrayed Linqing's rich canal heritage. The event also featured a captivating Shandong clapper ballad performance, World's Canal, Extraordinary Linqing.

The intangible cultural heritage fair offered visitors the opportunity to admire unique local crafts, such as Jimei pickles, ceremonial fabric shoes, gourd carvings, and paper-cutting art. Additionally, the health and wellness fair allowed guests to sample mulberry-mushroom drinks and experience traditional Chinese medicine consultations.

The event also attracted large online audiences, with popular Douyin live-streamers and e-commerce influencers promoting and selling canal-themed products to bridge the gap between offline experiences and online shopping.

With its blend of tradition, culture, and modern shopping, the Grand Canal Bazaar showed Shandong's rich heritage while spreading festive joy to all. (Edited by Li Qiaoxingzi)