The Fascinating New Year’s Temple Fair in Yinan 

“The temple fair is beautiful, and the dragon-lion performances are fabulous! A great time for both adults and children!” Ms. Wang, a tourist from Jiangsu Province, said cheerfully at the trendy garden party in Zhuquan Village, Yinan County of Linyi City, Shandong Province. She was taking photos in front of the lion dance performance with the majestic sounds of gongs and drums.

Yinan County launched a variety of folk performances during the Spring Festival 2024, including dragon and lion dances, Han fashion costumes shows, intangible cultural heritage events and more in its scenic spots and urban areas. There were more than 20 unique series of temple fair activities. The crowds are filled with joy in the Spring Festival ambience.

“I didn’t expect that the TV series Running Dog was filmed here in Hongsao’s hometown. Walking in the ancient village here, I feel like walking into the TV series, siting in the same stone room where the actors are right before me. It is a unique experience!” Li Yuxuan, a freshman who was visiting the temple fair said.

During the Festival, Yinan is inviting college students from all over the country to visit Hongsao’s hometown. The special interactive programs “Yimeng Past Events: Beacon Fire in the Ancient City” and “Going Home for the New Year” allow tourists to immerse themselves in the drama to experience the past times and local feelings of the ancient town.

The Spring Festival is bustling with laughs and excitements. The intangible cultural heritage classes are open for the visitors. Yinan County’s “Celebrate the New Year in the Museum” event has received enthusiastic registrations from many parents. “Every Spring Festival and other holidays, the county museum invites intangible cultural heritage inheritors to open museum classes. No matter how busy I am, I will take time to come here to accompany the children in an experience class. Seeing that the children are interested in the cultural heritage, I’m very happy!” said ZUO Ansheng, an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage. Yinan County has opened 8 intangible cultural heritage classes including “Yimeng Flowery Buns”, “New Year’s Woodcarving Pictures”, “Dough Sculptures” and “Sugar Paintings” .

While enjoying the richness of the temple fair in Yinan, the visitors experienced a deeper understanding of traditional folk culture and folk customs.

Dong Shousheng, director of the Yinan County Cultural Tourism Bureau, said: “During the Spring Festival, the supply and demand of cultural tourism in Yinan are booming. The tourism market sets up a stage for the folk culture to display. Singing, hot spring Spa, opera watching, temple visiting, ancient village walking… every event is to celebrates the New Year.! Performance of the traditional pieces like “Going Home”, “Martial Competition for the Marriage Recruits” and “Copycat Gongs and Drums” are beautifully combined with the scenic spots, becoming eye-catching highlights, allowing every visitor to recall the New Year’s flavor in their childhood.” The continued hot influx of tourists has increased comprehensive income in Yinan and boosted the businesses like transportation, catering, shopping, accommodation and other related consumptions.  A “good start” in 2024 for Yinan’s cultural tourism!