Ancient Horse and Mule Fair

　　The "Ancient Horse and Mule Fair" is a religious and cultural event held annually on the 18th day of the third lunar month from the Ming and Qing dynasties through the Republican era at Longgang Temple. In addition to religious ceremonies and theatrical performances during the temple fair, there were also markets for trading livestock such as horses and mules, as well as agricultural goods. Locally, it is known as the "Horse and Mule Fair."

　　Longgang Temple is located at the foot of Longgang Mountain near Liangshan in Liangshan Town, Nanzheng County, Shaanxi Province, facing the historically cultural city of Hanzhong across the river. The temple derives its name from Longgang Mountain, which lies on the southern bank of the Han River. The meandering river flows around the mountain contours like a dragon, hence the name "Longgang Temple." In earlier times, the mountain was covered with lush forests, presenting a scene of "mist shrouding green trees and trees enfolding the mountain," and it also featured the mystical "Ten Thousand Stone City" standing majestically at the mountaintop.

　　The temple has a long history and is frequently mentioned in historical texts such as the Huayang Guo Zhi and Yu Di Ji Sheng. Research indicates that Longgang Temple was first built during the Eastern Jin or early Northern and Southern Dynasties, making it over 1,500 years old. By the Tang Dynasty, it had developed into a renowned scenic destination in Hanzhong. The great Tang poet Cen Shen depicted the temple’s splendid scenery in his poem "Attending a Banquet on the North Courtyard Lake of Longgang Temple in Liangzhou with Military Envoy Zhao": "Who hosts the envoys of Twin Terraces? The military clerk from the Powder Office. Singing until river birds vanish, piping as bank flowers perfume the air. Wine shadows sway with the new moon, the sound of the rapids competes with the setting sun. The evening temple bell is heard, the return boat glides down the green river." According to the Hanzhong Prefecture Annals, during the Tang Dynasty, one hundred thousand Buddhist devotees visited the temple annually to worship. This tradition continued unabated until the early Republican era. Longgang Temple was grand in scale, originally covering 179 mu with hundreds of halls and temples. After many changes over the dynasties, 48 ancient buildings remain today, covering an area of 11,685 square meters. In 1984, the Nanzheng County Longgang Temple Cultural Relics Management Office was established, accelerating the development of cultural relics protection and tourism at the temple.

　　In recent years, with the development of folk culture at Longgang Temple and the rise of tourism, the "Ancient Horse and Mule Fair" has evolved into a folk tourism cultural event. Held annually on the 18th day of the third lunar month, it is organized by the Longgang Temple Buddhist group and the Longgang Temple Cultural Relics Management Office. The main activities include religious ceremonies, folk performances, small commodity trading, and local snacks. During the fair, the Nanzheng County Kuangkuang Opera Troupe is invited to perform, staging plays such as Universe's Edge, The Emperor’s Pearl, Famen Temple, and Tales of the Neighbor’s Wall. Each year, the fair attracts over 50,000 visitors for both the temple events and sightseeing, influencing regions including southern Shaanxi, eastern Gansu, northern Sichuan, and western Hubei and Henan.