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The opening ceremony of the fifth Jinjiang (Anhai) Dragon Boat Folk & Culture Festival, June 9. [Photo/ Xinhua] |
The fifth Jinjiang (Anhai) Dragon Boat Folk & Culture Festival was held on June 9 attracting thousands of visitors to the city to take part in celebrations, ancient customs and rituals such as plucking ducks and lotus picking.
Also known as "suōluolián" in Chinese, lotus picking is unique to the Dragon Boat Festival in Anhai. It became popular during the early Qing Dynasty (AD 1648-1911) and has evolved over time to feature singing and the nation’s worship of dragons.
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File photo: Anhai people celebrate in the street as part of the city's lotus picking ritual. [Photo by Xu Weigeng] |
The custom involves locals rising early and displaying a wood or mud-crafted sculpture of a dragon's head which is paraded through the town accompanied by singing, dancing and drumming. The performers march through the streets on their way to begin the lotus picking.
The phrase "suōluolián" is harmoniously repeated throughout, which extols the hope of getting rid of calamities and bringing happiness.
In recent times the custom has become popular in celebrations of the Dragon Boat Festival in Taiwan.
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A creative arts festival is held as part of the fifth Jinjiang (Anhai) Dragon Boat Folk & Culture Festival. [Photo/ Xinhua] |
Besides the traditions marking the Dragon Boat Festival, there were 16 other activities on the day, including a creative arts festival, the establishment ceremony of the Anhai Cultural and Creative Development Association, a signing ceremony showing the collaborative relationship among the Anhai Cultural and Creative Development Association, the Tainan Culture Association and the Anping Cultural and Educational Foundation, an "Elegant Anhai" old photograph show, and an exhibition of local artifacts.
The creative arts festival, covering areas of modern culture, traditional arts, industrial design, and Taiwan-style cultural and creative industries, combined tradition and fashion and provided a chance for young entrepreneurs to show their creativity.
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Thousands of tourists and locals participate in the activities of the fifth Jinjiang (Anhai) Dragon Boat Folk & Culture Festival. [Photo/ Xinhua] |
