Yanggu County, Shandong Revitalizes Rural Temple Fairs through Cultural Tourism

LIAOCHENG, China, Apr. 21, 2025 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

Recently, the 3rd Annual Temple Fair and Cultural Tourism Festival of 2025, hosted by Guomiao Village in Qiaorun Subdistrict, Yanggu County, Liaocheng City, Shandong Province, was held with great fanfare. The event offered a vibrant showcase of rural life and traditional culture, allowing visitors to experience the unique charm of countryside temple fairs amid a festive and lively atmosphere.

In Guomiao Village, the temple fair, held annually on the 19th day of the second lunar month, is a time-honored cultural tradition. It serves not only as a platform for preserving folk customs, but also as a vital link for strengthening community bonds. In the new era, Guomiao Village has actively leveraged the “Chunhe Bali” Rural Revitalization Demonstration Zone to deeply integrate the temple fair with cultural tourism, with a view to transforming it into a key platform for showcasing rural scenery, preserving intangible heritage, and advancing rural revitalization. This year’s cultural tourism festival is a vivid example of such innovative integration.

During the event, the village’s cultural square turned into a festive sea of joy, where a series of folk performances delivered a visual and cultural feast to audiences. At the fitness square, a captivating Yu Opera performance by the Zhouzhuang Yu Opera Troupe from Yanggu drew large crowds of opera enthusiasts. At 10:30 a.m., the performers staged excerpts from Liu Tongxun’s Secret Inspection. Their articulate singing and expressive gestures captivated the audience.

On the main thoroughfare, known as Jucai Street, the 900-meter-long market area bustled with activity. Booths lined both sides of the street, offering a dazzling array of goods. The aroma of local delicacies from food stalls filled the air, tempting visitors with irresistible traditional snacks. As tourists enjoyed the culinary treats, they also wandered among the stalls, searching for unique souvenirs and handicrafts. Local artisans added to the cultural flavor. For nearby villagers, the temple fair is an indispensable part of rural life, and a vital vessel for cultural inheritance and community spirit. “I look forward to the temple fair every year,” said Ma Jianwei with enthusiasm. “It’s not just a festive gathering, but a precious opportunity to pass down the cultural heritage of our ancestors. Every year, the event gets better, more visitors come, and our future looks more promising.”

For visitors from afar, the temple fair offered a refreshing and eye-opening experience. “I’d only ever seen this kind of rural fair on TV before. Experiencing it in person was truly breathtaking. The folk performances were spectacular, and the market stalls were full of unique local flavor. This gave me a much deeper appreciation for rural culture. I’ll definitely come back again if I get the chance,” said tourist Wang Qianqian with excitement.

Source: Information Office of Yanggu County People’s Government