Jinyun hosts ceremony to honor Yellow Emperor

A ceremony honoring Huangdi is held on Oct 18 in Jinyun county, Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A ceremony honoring Huangdi, also known as the Yellow Emperor, was held on Oct 18 (Double Ninth Festival in the lunar calendar) at Huangdi Temple in Jinyun county, Lishui, Zhejiang province, with over 300 attendees, including Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese.

Revered throughout Chinese history, Huangdi ruled a united China around 5,000 years ago and is seen as the legendary ancestor of the Chinese people and the founder of Chinese culture. Legend holds that the Yellow Emperor practiced alchemy at Dinghu Peak in Jinyun and rode a dragon to heaven.

The ceremony began at 9:50 am with horn blasts. Drums were then beaten 34 times, and bells struck 15 times, representing the 34 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions, and special administrative regions, as well as the 1.5 billion Chinese people worldwide. Participants presented flower baskets and wine offerings, and a dragon rose amid music and dance to conclude the ceremony.

A dragon rises amid music and dance at the ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Huangdi Temple, at the foot of Dinghu Peak, is a site where Chinese people trace their roots. The tradition of honoring the Yellow Emperor there on Double Ninth Festival has continued for over 1,600 years.

A related promotional event featuring expert speeches and roundtables was also held on Oct 18 and 19 to bring this ancient ceremony and Jinyun's Huangdi culture to the world.