As anticipation mounts, the 2024 Foshan Ancestral Temple Fair, also known as the celebration of the birth of the Northern Deity, is set to captivate attendees from April 11 to 14 at the Foshan Ancestral Temple Museum.

This year's fair introduces the concept of the "Ten Foshan Traditional Cultures," highlighting the unique cultural identity of Foshan, with the Ancestral Temple Fair at its heart.

The 2024 Foshan Ancestral Temple Fair includes Blessing Ceremony, the Northern Deity's Parade, divine dramas, calligraphy and painting exhibitions, intangible cultural heritage showcases, and a market fair highlighting local intangible cultural heritage products. Embracing both tradition and modernity, this year's fair promises to be a highlight of the centennial celebration, offering a fusion of age-old customs and contemporary flair.

Cultural Education Extravaganza

As part of its commitment to cultural education, this year's Foshan Ancestral Temple Fair will welcome student representatives from several schools as special guests. These young participants will actively engage in various fair activities.

Notably, Class 401 of Huanhu Primary School has formed the "Hung Gar" team, becoming the first student contingent to join the Northern Deity's parade, showcasing the youthful vigor and proactive engagement in heritage preservation among Chinese youth.

This innovative approach to utilizing cultural heritage as an educational resource underscores the collaborative efforts between cultural institutions and schools, fostering a harmonious integration of culture and education while ensuring the continued legacy of Foshan's traditional heritage.

Enhanced Visitor Experience

Spanning a route of 2.5 kilometers, the Northern Deity's Parade, featuring eleven parade contingents comprising nearly a thousand performers, promises to be a spectacle of grandeur unparalleled since the revival of the "Northern Deity's Birth" tradition.

For the first time, three designated performance areas located outside the main gate of the Ancestral Temple, at the intersections of Fuxian Road and Jianxin Road, and at the crossroads of Baihua Plaza, will feature professional guides to provide insightful commentary on each contingent, offering visitors a deeper understanding and immersive experience of the procession.

Special Show Performed by Kashgar

Kashgar, situated in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is renowned as the "Pearl of the Western Regions" and the "Land of Fruits and Melons." It also happens to be a county that Foshan actively supports through its targeted assistance program. The cultural ties between the two regions have flourished over the years.

For the first time, the Foshan Ancestral Temple Fair extends a warm invitation to the Kashgar Song and Dance Troupe, representing Foshan's partner county, to participate in the city's most significant folk cultural event. Through their unique music and dance performances, the troupe will join the Northern Deity's ceremonial procession and stage seven performances at the central venue of the Ancestral Temple Fair, symbolizing the enduring bond between Foshan and Kashgar through cultural exchange and cooperation.

Visitor's Guide

Time: April 11 to 14, 2024

Location: Foshan Ancestral Temple Museum

Public Transportation Directions:

Take the Guangfo Line to Tongji Road Station, Exit B. The museum is approximately 200 meters from the station.

Reporter | Lynn

Revisor | Eleanor, Eddie

Photo | Zumiao News, Foshan Ancestral Temple Museum, Foshan Cantonese Opera Theater

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