By Peng Li, EDITOR
On March 24, 2019, Yubei District held the 2019 China Chongqing · Fengdu Temple Fair Information Release & Tourism Product Promotion Conference. At the conference, Li Wuzhou, Member of Standing Committee of CPC Fengdu County Committee and Deputy County Mayor of Fengdu Municipal People’s Government, released related information of the temple fair and warmly welcomed friends from all over the world to appreciate the “lush landscapes”, “abundant natural resources”, and “rich cultures” of Fengdu County.
Li Wuzhou, Member of Standing Committee of CPC Fengdu County Committee and Deputy County Mayor of Fengdu Municipal People’s Government, releases related information of the temple fair on March 24, 2019.
Fengdu will hold the 2019 Fengdu Temple Fair in Chongqing, China (the 22nd Folk Culture Festivals of Fengdu Ghost City) from April 5 to 10. At that time, Fengdu will present “seven surprises” to all tourists and provide them with superior “new options for temple fair”.
Surprise I: “Street Wedding Parade of Emperor of the Underworld” with combined Chinese and Western elements
Street Wedding Parade of Emperor of the Underworld (Photo by Zeng Bin)
From April 5 to 10 (16:00-18:00), Fengdu will hold the highly distinctive event of “Street Wedding Parade of Emperor of the Underworld” from the rotary in front of the Light Grand Hotel of Fengdu, along the Pingdu Avenue and the Longhe Bridge, and to the Jinke property at last. The parade takes the “Wedding of Emperor of the Underworld” as its theme, and the themed float and dressed up phalanx of characters as the main part, plus a group of tourists, thus ensuring a spectacular and magnificent event.
The themed float
Different from the previous phalanxes, this year’s parade includes foreign friends from afar. The famous float from Guanajuato, Mexico will become the first “foreign element” introduced to Fengdu Temple Fair. The parade is designed for tourists from all over the world. By signing up online, tourists can partake in this year’s parade to have the best time with the Mexican float.
Surprise II: “Intangible Cultural Heritage”—the Acrobatics Show in Wuqiao County
Acrobatics Show in Wuqiao County (Photo from the respondent)
Xiaoguan Mountain Ancient Buildings will stage a wonderful Acrobatics Show in Wuqiao County (an intangible cultural heritage). The Acrobatics Show in Wuqiao County, as one of the earliest folk arts included in China’s intangible cultural heritage list, has been performed overseas for many times and won a lot of commendation. During the Fair, there will be one show in the morning and one in the afternoon every day to create thrilling and exciting visual perception for the audience.
Surprise III: The Competition of China’s First “Fengdu Ghost-Mask Dance”
Fengdu Ghost-Mask Dance
The First National Ghost-Mask Dance Competition in 2019 will kick off during the Fengdu Temple Fair, bringing a vehement collision centering on fashion and individuality. The “ghost-mask dance” is a kind of “Fengdu-style street dance” evolved from the “folk culture of Fengdu Ghost City”. With dazzling dancing postures and unique appearances of the dancers, the “ghost-mask dance” has combined the “folk culture” and “culture of kindness” of Fengdu. During the Fair, hundreds of “ghost-mask dance” lovers signed up online/offline will take part in the competition at the Square of the Ming Mountain Scenic Spot.
Surprise IV: The “Night Tour in the Ghost City” with High-tech Sound & Light Show
Night Tour in the Ghost City (Photo by Chen Yong)
Fengdu is known as the “Ghost City”, so the “Night Tour in the Ghost City” is naturally the top priority among the fair activities. The 2018 Fengdu Temple Fair opened with the activity of the “Night Tour in the Ghost City”, which became so popular that it was difficult to buy tickets. This year, the world’s only entity landscape themed on ghost culture in the Ming Mountain Scenic Spot, including the Naihe Bridge, Huangquan Road (the Road to Hell), the Guimen Gate (the Gate of Hell), the Tianzi Palace (the Emperor’s Palace), and the Eighteenth Hell, will stage an extremely realistic and exciting “night tour in the ghost city” with the high-tech sound & light show, ensuring a unique experience for tourists.
Surprise V: Ten-Thousand-People Beef Hot Pot Banquet
Delicious food (Photo from the respondent)
Fengdu boasts beautiful landscapes and abundant natural resources with numerous classic delicacies such as the spicy chicken, Fengdu beef, the red pomelo of Sanyuan Town, and the preserved pickle of Fengdu. Therefore, in the fair, tourists and locals can not only appreciate the landscapes and cultures, but also savor the featured delicacies with unique stories. With amazing taste and visual effect, the Ten-Thousand-People Beef Banquet of “One Town, One Flavor” will bring you an unforgettable experience.
Surprise VI: Ten-Thousand-People Spicy Chicken Banquet for Free
As one of the celebrated dishes of Fengdu, the “spicy chicken” is famous at home and abroad. There is a special commodities fair of the “spicy chicken”, which displays traditional skills of cooking the “spicy chicken” across Fengdu. In respond to the “national game” this year, Fengdu is going to hold wonderful activities like the “food street of the first ghost city spicy chicken culture” and the “ten-thousand-people chicken banquet for free”.
Surprise VII: Visit the 2019 Fengdu Temple Fair for Free!
According to the Tourism Marketing Center of Fengdu County , during the temple fair, tourists who arrive in Fengdu by bullet train from the surrounding areas can vote and answer questions online to win the lottery qualification. There are 1,315 “pay-the-bill prizes” with unequal prices for lucky tourists, including 15 first prizes, 300 second prizes, and 1,000 third prizes. The highest reward of “pay-the-bill prizes” include “RMB 800 of subsidy, tickets of two 4A scenic spots, and a room of brand hotel”. Winners can use the subsidy for the bullet train or other expenses for visiting the temple fair, and they can cash their prizes at the appointed places of the Fengdu Railway Station or Hongsheng Cultural Square with the QR codes of prizes and the tickets.
More surprises are awaiting you!
In addition to the seven surprises mentioned above, there are also a series of theme activities with cultural connotations and joys, including a sacrifice ceremony centered on “Worshiping the Ancestors in Memory of Them”, a mini-train parade, the ghost shows, the national walker, a table tennis competition, a photography exhibition, and a mass-election of Empress of the Underworld. Moreover, tourism promotion activities such as “visiting the temple fair by overseas chartered plane”, “visiting the temple fair by chartered cruise ship in group”, “visiting the temple fair by chartered bus in group”, and “postgraduates visiting the temple fair in group”. All the activities will surely be surprising!
Routes Recommendations for Fengdu Temple Fair
1.One-day tour
Xiaoguan Mountain Ancient Buildings—Ming Mountain Scenic Spot of the Ghost City—Parade of the Temple Fair—Ten-Thousand-People Beef Banquet in Longcheng Food Street
2.Two-day tour (Route I)
Xiaoguan Mountain Ancient Buildings—Ming Mountain Scenic Spot of the Ghost City—Parade of the Temple Fair—Ten-Thousand-People Beef Banquet in Longcheng Food Street—Fengdu Accommodations—Night Tour in the Ghost City—Tour in Fengdu Ancient City—Jade Emperor Holy Land Scenic Spot—Nine Heavens Scenic Spot—Snow Jade Cave Scenic Spot
3.Two-day tour (Route II)
Xiaoguan Mountain Ancient Buildings—Ming Mountain Scenic Spot of the Ghost City—Parade of the Temple Fair—Ten-Thousand-People Beef Banquet in Longcheng Food Street—Fengdu Accommodations—Night Tour in the Ghost City—Nantian Lake Scenic Spot—Snow Jade Cave Scenic Spot—Nine Heavens Scenic Spot
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