Editor's Note: This article is produced in collaboration with the Chongqing Institute of Foreign Studies as part of a series of ongoing reports exploring the city's abundant resources in intangible cultural heritages.
The grand scene of Baoding Pilgrimage.
Believers climb the mountain, shrouded in mist and swept by a rain-laden breeze, seeking Guanyin’s grace and shelter. Far away, red walls and gray tiles rise where the earth meets the sky. Listen—the peal of an ancient temple bell rings out. People’s wishes take flight as incense curls upward, carrying prayers for peace and health in the golden light.
Ascending Emei’s cloud-wrapped steps and kneeling at the Baoding Pilgrimage, visitors witness the blending of Buddhist devotion and folk ritual, as crowds chant amid drifting incense. “Our village holds temple fairs each year to honor the gods, and I’m always chosen to play Guanyin.” “One night’s east wind adorns thousands of trees with blossoms, and blows down stars like rain. Fine steeds and carved carriages spread fragrance along the way.” Perhaps long ago, such vibrant scenes of temple fairs had already taken root in people’s imaginations—not to mention the Baoding Incense Gathering, a representative incense festival with a history of more than a thousand years.
Originating in the Southern Song Dynasty, the Baoding Incense Gathering grew out of the tradition of the Dazu Rock Carvings. It embodies the union of religious devotion and folk custom, serving as a cultural vessel for collective hopes and blessings. The gods gaze down upon bowed heads—young and old alike—each holding incense, their wishes shimmering within the drifting smoke. No wonder the Baoding Incense Gathering was listed among China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage projects, recognized for its enduring cultural value. Its economic influence is equally remarkable.
To describe the Baoding Incense Gathering, one must not only mention red candles and burning incense, but also the surging crowds and throngs of merchants and guests; the actors singing in the grand hall, their colorful robes swirling to lingering melodies; the lion dances and glowing lanterns led by chanting monks; the children releasing sky lanterns and pilgrims busy before rows of candles; the scenes of cultural exchange attracting media attention; and its growing presence on the global stage, inspiring projects worth tens of billions.
It is hard to imagine that, despite its present grandeur, the Baoding Incense Gathering was once forgotten for decades after the Liberation. Only in the 1980s, with the reopening of Shengshou Temple, did it flourish once again. This revival owes much to the efforts of the Dazu Art Museum and, more broadly, the Dazu Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center of Chongqing. As citizens of Chongqing, we take pride in seeing the Dazu Art Museum recognized as the official protection unit for the “Baoding Incense Temple Gathering,” ensuring this living tradition will continue to be passed down through generations.
During the Baoding Incense Fair, temple bells echo and incense burns bright. Tens of thousands of pilgrims come and go, voicing their wishes and paying homage to the gods—to Buddha, to the mountains, and to the waters. In this pure land, each leaves behind three sticks of incense.
Chinese script: Liang Ke
Tutored by: Yun Jingyi
Translation: Long Xinyu
Tutored by: Lu Siying, Gu Tiantian
Voice-over: Wang Xueying