The street is closed for three days to celebrate the birthday of the Seven Generals Temple in Dali, with traditional opera troupes gathering in full force.

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, reported by Chen Guanxin

The Dali Seven Generals Temple, with a history of over 200 years, is renowned for its extremely high success rate in lost-and-found divinations. Throughout the year, theatrical performances are held in tribute, with as many as 400 performances in peak years. The annual "Birthday of the Seven Generals" on the fifth day of the seventh lunar month is a major local folk event. This year’s celebration of the Seven Generals’ birthday will take place from August 19 to 21, with the closure of Xinxing Road in Dali District for three days. Additional activities include a photography competition, an exhibition of calligraphy by master artists, and free guided tours of the old street. These events not only continue the tradition of cultural heritage but also allow participants to gain a deeper understanding of local folk culture.

The Dali gY Folk Culture Tour, in conjunction with the Seven Generals Festival, has planned a series of activities including a photography competition, an exhibition of calligraphy by master artists, and guided tours of the old street. The photography competition requires entries to focus on the temple fair activities, with the submission period running from now until August 21 and the deadline for entries set for August 26. The gold medal prize will be a cash award of NT$10,000. The guided tour route of the old street will pass by locations such as Pickle Alley, Fuxing Temple, Qingyuan Hall, the Upside-Down Banyan Tree, and the Dali gY Cultural Museum. The public can register for free on-site. During the event, there will also be performances of traditional snacks, folk operas, troupes, and entertainment, as well as free DIY activities for traditional crafts such as paper folding and ornaments. The Dali gY Cultural Museum has additionally organized a community folk artifact exhibition, allowing participants to relive the lively atmosphere of the temple fair.

The annual fifth day of the seventh lunar month marks the festival of the Seven Generals, also known as the "Birthday of the Seven Generals." The Seven Generals Temple, also called the Zhongyi Shrine, is a site of righteous spirit worship in the Dali gY area, established to commemorate soldiers who defended the local people. In the ninth year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, six soldiers from the General’s Headquarters were patrolling Liushu ns (now Nanliu Village, Wufeng District) when they were killed by indigenous people during a headhunting raid. Their loyal dog, which had accompanied them, ran back to headquarters, barking frantically. Exhausted from running back and forth to seek help, the dog eventually died. The Qing government honored the six soldiers and the loyal dog for their sacrifice in service, giving them a grand burial at the site of their death. The local people built a temple in their memory to honor their loyalty and righteousness, collectively referring to the six soldiers and one loyal dog as the "Seven Generals." Event website: www.facebook.com/dahshin.

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