The Girl's Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday to commemorate Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), who was born more than 1,300 years ago.

In olden times, people preferred to visit Huangze Temple in memory of Empress Wu on her birthday, which fell on the 23rd day of the first lunar month. On that day, women would dress up and invite someone to stroll along the Jialing River in the hopes of receiving good luck.

An impersonator of Empress Wu shows up during the celebrations of the Girl's Festival on Sept 1, in Guangyuan. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Guangyuan city, in Southwest China's Sichuan province, has been identified as the hometown of Empress Wu through written materials and unearthed relics.

Li Shangyin, a literal giant of the Tang Dynasty, once wrote a poem to glorify the empress's birth during his trip by way of Lizhou, now Gungyuan city. That, plus a stele unearthed from the Huangze Temple, allowed the Chinese writer and historian Guo Moruo (1892-1978) to certify the truth.

Afterwards, Guo dedicated an antithetical couplet to the temple.

In 1963, Madame Soong Ching Ling, one of the central government's vice-chairs at the time, wrote an inscription that reads "Wu Zetian is the only female emperor in Chinese history, and was an outstanding politician in the feudal era."

Performers dance at the side of the river during the Girl's Festival, on Sept 1, in Guangyuan. [Photo provided to China Daily]

No matter in the past or in the present, local women have always played an important role, and with no less courage or effort than men. The first women's armed organization -- the Women's Independent Division under the Fourth Aspect Red Army -- was established in Guangyuan.

Zhao Hailing, honoree of the national March 8th Red-Banner Holder, and Deng Xiaoyan, winner of the March 8th Red-Banner Holder at provincial level, are both young businesswomen who have given up job opportunities in big cities in order to return home and lead local villagers to live a good life.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zhao Yingming, another winner of the  March 8th Red-Banner Holder at provincial level, devoted herself to fighting against the virus, despite the hardships faced.

The Phoenix Boat Race gains popularity among the Guangyuan people. [Photo provided to China Daily]

In 1988, the CPC Guangyuan Party Committee and the local government decided to resume the festival, but set the date as Sept 1 in the solar calendar. It has been successfully celebrated 33 times.

Over the years, the city has used the festival as an important portal to display women's charms, historical sentiments and the spirit of the times, as well as a platform for openness, cooperation and sharing.

The festival has become a shining brand name for the city, having claimed various titles, including being one of China's Top Ten Brand Festivals. The characteristic activity of the Phoenix Boat Race has also been declared as among China's sports intangible cultural heritage projects.