North Deity Temple Fair to bring festivities to Xixiang next week

Spectators are captivated by a vibrant performance during a Sanyuesan North Deity Temple Fair procession in Xixiang, Bao’an District, in April 2024. Liu Xudong

The Xixiang North Deity Temple Fair, a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage event, will be held in Xixiang Subdistrict, Bao’an District, from March 26 to April 3, as announced at a press conference yesterday.

Dating back to the Ming Dynasty, the fair has grown into the largest and longest-standing intangible cultural heritage festival in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The fair’s most anticipated event, the Grand Parade to be held March 26, will cover a 4-kilometer route that links 10 historical landmarks. Among these are the North Deity Ancient Temple, a symbolic site representing Xixiang’s folk culture and Lingnan heritage; the Wang Dazhong Memorial Hall, a cultural landmark and educational center; and the Qiyun Study Room, the birthplace of Zheng Yuxiu — China’s first female legal scholar and lawyer — that is now a hub for traditional cultural education.

The Grand Parade on March 26 will span a four-kilometer route, connecting 10 historical landmarks in Xixiang. Courtesy of the organizer

The fair will offer a diverse array of cultural performances, featuring 109 troupes from across the GBA.

Following the success of last year’s fair, which garnered 30 million livestream views in a single day and achieved 730 million online impressions, organizers are introducing innovative initiatives to engage the public further.

This year’s event will include 20 interactive heritage booths where visitors can experience traditional crafts like Chaozhou ceramic inlays, learn the art of Jiuyi Guqin playing, or explore the practice of Huang Hanzhang’s traditional Chinese medicine techniques.

A souvenir shop showcasing cultural products from the Sanyuesan North Deity Temple Fair opens this year, offering visitors a richer experience.  Courtesy of the organizer 

In a modern twist, the fair will also introduce a holographic digital exhibition at Gangxia North Station (岗厦北站), allowing travelers to virtually experience the event through immersive digital displays.

Metro: Line 1 to Pingzhou Station (坪洲站), Exit C, either walk or take a short taxi ride to Xixiang Park, the main venue of the temple fair.