The Zhongyuan Festival, widely recognized as the Yulanpen Festival in Buddhism and colloquially known as the Ghost Festival among Fengdu residents, holds a revered position as one of China's four significant ancestor-worshipping events.
The remaining three include New Year's Eve, Qingming Festival (Tomb-sweeping Day), and Chongyang Festival (Double Ninth Festival).
Spanning ancient to contemporary times, the Ghost Festival symbolizes the deep-seated sentiment of homesickness for countless Chinese generations. Its longevity owes much to the enduring values of kindness, filial piety, and societal responsibility.
To both celebrate and invigorate China's timeless culture and amplify the cultural essence of the Ghost Festival, Fengdu County has scheduled the 2023 Fengdu Ghost Festival Activities. Slated for 18:00 to 22:00 on August 30th, the county warmly welcomes tourists and locals alike to partake in the captivating experience of traditional Chinese heritage.
Fengdu County will hold the Fengdu Ghost Festival Activities 2023 on August 30th. (Photo/Fengdu County)
Crafted with an ethos of cultural appreciation, market adaptability, and innovative vigor, the event promises diverse and enriching programs. Highlights encompass five key ceremonies: ancestor worship at the Mingshan Scenic Area, a ceremonial patrol by the "City God," the main ancestor worship ritual, an offering of burned paper artifacts to honor ancestral spirits, and a breathtaking release of sky lanterns by thousands.
From 20:00 to 20:30, the tradition comes alive as the "City God" embarks on a stately procession along Fujie Street, leading a retinue of spectral figures. This spectacle will also introduce a majestic 7-meter Taoist paper art—Zhizha, complemented by an evocative dance showcase.
The previous edition of Fengdu County Fengdu Ghost Festival Activities. (Photo/Fengdu County)
As 20:30 transitions into 21:10, Fujie Street's central stage becomes a hotspot of cultural immersion. Attendees can partake in ancient rituals, be enthralled by authentic on-site performances, and witness heartfelt interplays between artists and ancestral spirits; all channeled through operas, dances, and theatrical enactments.
Bridging past and present, the festival seamlessly integrates state-of-the-art technology. In line with modern tourism's evolving trajectory, 12 grand blessing lanterns, each spanning 1.5 meters, will ascend into the night at 21:20. This celestial spectacle will be accentuated with an additional 10,000 lanterns released riverside and a drone-led display of 200 lanterns, painting the sky with luminous dreams.
Rooted deeply in China's historical narrative, the Fengdu Ghost Festival is a beacon of the region's cultural ethos. The annual ceremonies, tracing back to dynastic eras, have evolved to incorporate prayers, performances, and participatory experiences, fostering values of respect, love, and communal harmony.
Furthermore, the Fengdu Ghost Festival Activities 2023 symbolizes the 20th CPC National Congress's vision and General Secretary Xi Jinping's directives on revering China's cultural legacy. With dual ambitions of boosting tourism and entwining culture with travel experiences, the festival anticipates enhancing China's cultural renaissance, satiating both residents' and tourists' cultural appetites, and elevating Fengdu as a global cultural ambassador.
As a testament to its cultural stature, the Fengdu Ghost Festival is designated as a county-level intangible cultural heritage and actively pursues municipal recognition. The 2023 festivities, generously accessible at no cost, beckon one and all to embark on a transcendent journey, rediscovering China's moral and cultural treasures across epochs.