Placing a cinnabar mark [Photo courtesy Zhuhai Daily]

Scholar Lu's Birthday Festival has a history of more than 300 years in Changshaxu Village of Qianshan, Xiangzhou District. It is held yearly by villagers on the 4th Day of the 9th Lunar Month to commemorate the birth of teacher Lu Zhizhong (1593-1668).

Festivities include worship at Scholar Lu Temple, lion dances, sacrifices, eulogies, marking the foreheads of new students with cinnabar, burning incense, Cantonese Opera, and paying respect to the elderly.

Born in Shangce Village of Hsiang-shan (Xiangshan) County, Scholar Lu was invited to teach local children in Changshaxu at the age of 21. He devoted his entire life to rural education.

Scholar Lu's Birthday Festival was designated a district-level intangible cultural heritage in June 2020.