At 4 p.m. the day before yesterday, less than half an hour before the closing of the Temple of Earth Spring Festival Fair, large crowds of citizens were still lingering around various New Year goods stalls, taking advantage of the discount sales to shop. That day marked the end of the eight-day 2013 Temple of Earth and Longtan Spring Cultural Fairs.
The day before yesterday, most of Beijing’s temple fairs came to a close. According to incomplete statistics from the Municipal Bureau of Culture, as of yesterday, 17 major temple fairs and some traditional cultural events across the city attracted a total of 4.7987 million participants. Among them, the most popular Temple of Earth Fair and Longtan Fair drew 1.1864 million and 871,800 visitors respectively.
According to statistics from Dongcheng District, the Temple of Earth Fair saw its peak number of visitors on the third day of the Lunar New Year, reaching 203,000. The busiest day at the Longtan Fair was the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, attracting 157,500 visitors. Both fairs featured distinctive cultural activities. Taiwan’s “Driftwood Culture and Art Troupe” collaborated with the Temple of Earth Fair for the first time, presenting the “Taiwan Image Exhibition,” allowing Beijing residents to experience Taiwanese cultural performances at a fair for the first time. Folk flower processions are a highlight of the Longtan Fair. In addition to annual performances such as the Manchu Yangge from Fushun, Liaoning, the Pan Drum from Yuanyang, Henan, and the martial arts from Laizhou, Shandong, the Zhejiang Pinghu Jiucailong dragon dance, which hadn’t appeared at Longtan for 18 years, was especially popular with visitors.
This year, the Longtan Fair advocated for “low-carbon temple fair visits,” receiving an enthusiastic response from visitors. Statistics show that 82% of attendees chose “low-carbon” modes of transport such as buses, walking, or cycling to get to the fair. The concept of low-carbon environmental protection was also reflected in many details of the fair—for instance, vendors all used disposable biodegradable eco-friendly food containers, and the once-common sight of ultra-thin plastic bags was nowhere to be found. Additionally, the environmental decorations at this year’s Temple of Earth Fair insisted on using recyclable materials. Most of these decorations have been collected and stored, and will be reused in future events.
This year, the fifth day of the Lunar New Year coincided with Valentine’s Day on February 14. The blood donation vehicle at the entrance of the Longtan Fair became a popular spot for couples to “show their love.” Staff reported that over 40 couples came to donate blood that day as a unique way to express their affection.
Although Beijing’s major temple fairs have come to an end, the exciting Lantern Festival celebrations on the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year are just around the corner. On February 24 (the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year), the third China Music Valley Joy Festival, featuring festive flower parades and yangge dance troupes parading through the city to ring in the new year, will be held on Fuqian Avenue in Pinggu District. On February 24 and 25, the Qianjuntai and Zhuanghu Banner Festivals in Mentougou District will also take place, with villagers from both villages voluntarily participating in the processions, welcoming ceremonies, and performances. Traditional ground yangge dances, banner music performances, and drum ensembles will all be on display. From February 24 to 26, the Liǎnqiǎofàn folk food event in Yangshuxià Village, deep in the Huairou mountains, will also be held. The entire village will come together to prepare the special Liǎnqiǎofàn meal, and the heartwarming scene will leave a lasting impression.