Doumen is getting ready for cultural extravaganza

The popular Doumen Folk Culture Festival will bring back a mix of traditional culture, activities, and delicacies from Sept 16 to 23.

Coming off last year's success, this year's event will showcase the area's cultural and historic glamour by displaying well-known intangible cultural heritage items that have provincial, city, and district recognition.

National-level legacy projects such as Catching Mudfish are included. It will be followed by On-Water Wedding ceremony held for 16 couples on Sept 23 at no charge. This will be the fifth time this has been done in recent years.

Xijao Village and Hengshan Central Primary School in Lianzhou Town, and Nan'ao Village in Baijiao Town are among the activity sites.

On-Water Wedding in Doumen District

Slated are also a Tug-of-War on Water, Dragon Boat Rowing, and Fish Cage Weaving races. The 11th Shatian Folk Song Contest, Lion Dances, and other competitions will be held concurrently.

Up-close folk art experiences such as training sessions for the Lianzhou Di'se Street Procession impersonating the Eight Immortals, showing of Imperial Kinsmen Sacrificial Rites, samples of intangible cultural heritage cuisines, and a folk customs photography exhibition are on the program.

Participants can also gain authentic cultural background knowledge during the exhibition of Burning Bamboo Stick Incense.

All of this is just part of what Doumen is presenting for locals and tourists, according to an official of the district Tourism Bureau.

Traditional wedding feast [Photos by Zeng Yao / Zhuhai Daily]

Currently, the local government is stepping up its conversion of Huangyang Mt into a top national 5A-Grade scenic spot while also developing and upgrading Jintai Temple.

According to Gan Zihong, bureau director, the second half of this year will be full of publicity campaigns such as a design competition for bed-and-breakfast inns, souvenirs with local characteristics, and food documentary series to promote district culture, food, and tourism.

In addition, Doumen will earnestly promote its eco-fruits and vegetables, aquatic products, and local flavors to the tourism market.