The 13th Guangzhou Folk Culture Festival and Boluo Temple Fair held at the South Sea God Temple came to a close on March 10, after putting the best of the city's heritage on show for visitors.

The three-day fair is one of the biggest traditional folk temple fairs in Guangzhou, dating back to some 1,000 years.

Boluo Temple Fair celebrates the birth of Boluo, the God of the sea, and fell on Feb 13 this year according to Chinese lunar calendar.

Known as the oldest, grandest and most influential folk temple fair in Lingnan, people from all walks of life attend to pray for good fortune and observe traditional culture and customs.

Traditional prayers for safety and good luck, including the "Five Sons Worship Their Sea God Father" ritual are performed during the folk festival. Villagers bear statues of the sea god's five sons on sedan chairs, carrying them to the Boluo Temple to celebrate their father's birthday.

A Pixiu (a mythical Chinese animal resembling a winged lion) dance was performed, as well as Hakka folk dances, lion dances, martial arts, and Yue Opera.

Additionally, many historical gems and practices were showcased from the Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition.

Prayer rituals for safety and good fortune are performed at the 13th Guangzhou Folk Culture Festival and Boluo Temple Fair on March 8 to 10 in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province. [Photo by Wang Jia/Xinhua]