The eight-day Shengci Temple Fair – staged in Jingjiang city in East China's Jiangsu province – concluded on May 8 with over 150,000 visitors having streamed in to enjoy the charms of Song Dynasty (960-1279) culture.
Dating back 450 years, the fair is Jingjiang's oldest and largest.
It features parades, music, as well as dragon dances and marked the town's premier Song-style fair with 500 stalls offering cultural experiences and traditional handicrafts.
A grand Yue army parade takes place during the Shengci Temple Fair in Jingjiang city. [Photo by Zhu Qi, Ma Hesong and Yan Zhiyong]
Set between the Liu Guojun Residence and the Yue Fei Temple, the fair's 30 Song-style stalls showcased crafts like hairpins and tea art, immersing visitors in Song Dynasty ambiance.
Outside stalls display great wares during the Shengci Temple Fair. [Photo by Zhu Qi, Ma Hesong and Yan Zhiyong]
A "Seeking Yue Journey" event highlighted the spirit of loyalty embodied by Yue Fei, the heroic general of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), who led his men to battle against the invading Jin army.
The fair also showcased local creative products like hand-painted bags and artichokes, popular among tourists.
Liu Yi, deputy mayor of Shengci town, said the aim was to further integrate cultural tourism – as well as innovate products – and to position the tourism industry as a driving force for local development, in the process providing enjoyable experiences for all.