Zhaoqing Golden Autumn Economic and Trade Fair

The first annual “Golden Autumn Economic and Trade Fair” was held in 2003 by Zhaoqing Municipal Committee and government in order to fully explore the geographical, ecological, natural resource and development space advantages of Zhaoqing, to seize the good opportunities brought by the cooperation and development strategy of the Pan-Pearl River Delta, as well as to melt Zhaoqing into the development tide of the Pearl River Delta and to unite all people in all walks of life to build perfect development tendency of Zhaoqing. The trade fair is aimed at recruiting investment for development fund and has successfully attracted businessmen all over the world to visit and invest in Zhaoqing and has achieved very good social, economic and political achievements. At present, people from all walks of life flock to Zhaoqing to explore cooperation, plan development, create win-win opportunity and build brilliance.

Zhaoqing International Dragon Boat Tournament

Each year on the fifth day of the fifty month in lunar calendar, it is the Dragon Boat Festival.

It is the old tradition for Chinese to hold dragon boat competition on this day, every year over 40 to 50 dragon boats take part in the competition in Zhaoqing City zone, Jinli and Jindu in Gaoyao City, and towns along both sides of Xijiang River. The dragon boats are painted with red, yellow, blue, black and white. Each boat is installed with boat head and tail with length from 10 to 20 meters. Each boat has 15 to 30 crews.

During the competition, one member stands on the boat head, beating drums as the signal for guiding the crews to coordinate. In the boat, one person flings colorful flags as the crews are struggling forwards. On the both sides of the river, thousands of people are shouting with joy.

Star Lake Golden Autumn Happiness Festival

Zhaoqing Star Lake Autumn Happiness Festival

Golden autumn in star lake

Buddha Bath Festival

Every year on 8^th April in Chinese lunar calendar, Qingyun Temple (one of the famous four temples in the South Ridges) in Dinghu Mountain will hold Buddha Bath Festival.

On the festival day, Buddhists burn joss sticks and hang color flags in the different palaces. Then in the low meeting (also called Buddha Jar) will be held. At the beginning, Buddhists will read lows. Then the master will embrace the avatar of Sakyamuni---a small jade Buddha, for bath. Then the abbot will bathe the small jade Buddha by pouring water as double dragon pouring hot water and cold water as described in the tale of Sakyamuni at his birth. In addition, the abbot will pour famous perfume on the small jade Buddha.

Buddhists will use the rest perfume to water flowers afterwards. One or two days ahead of the Buddha Bath Festival, Buddhists from different places swarmed in and wait for the important day to come, praying for protection from the Buddha.

Dragon Mother’s Birthday Ceremony

Dragon Mother Temple (used to be called Xiaotongmiao Temple) in Yuecheng, Deqing holds praying ceremony on Dragon Mother’s birthday in the 8^th day of the fifth month each year according to Chinese lunar calendar.

It is said that in Zhou and Qin Dynasty, there lived a very clever and virtuous girl. She was good at plowing the land and weaving, fishing and browsing, prophesying blessings and misfortune, and curing different diseases. She brought up five dragon sons, and offered citizens luck and safety. As a result, she was credited with Dragon Mother.

Every 8^th day of the fifth month each year according to Chinese lunar calendar is Dragon Mother’s birthday. The birthday ceremony, with various activities, extends from the first day to the ninth day of the fifth month each year. Boats from Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau and Southeast Asia swarmed in as Dragon Mother’s Birthday begins. For days, Dragon Mother Temple, lighted by joss and prevailed with firecrackers, receive more than ten thousands prayers.

Swallow Festival

Every 6^th day of the sixth month each year according to Chinese lunar calendar is the temple fair day for Qiaotou Town, and also the festival day for visiting Swallow Rock. On that day, people from different towns and villages swarmed in to Swallow Rock. Listening to songs on different mountain peaks, watching swallows building their nets, and Gui’er Opera are three important highlights of Swallow Rock temple fair.

Unsophisticated folk songs follow one after another. The singers are most young people wearing Tang suits. Men wear white babushka, and women wear a red flower. They would sing in three and fours, expressing their sincere love.

Risky picking bird's nest by climbing up the rocks is the most excited activity. People flexibly climb up the rock to pick bird's nest only with sever bamboo sticks and hemp strings. It is said that only members from three different local families can manage to do this.

Gui’er Opera is an ancient opera in Qiaotou Town. A stage will be built in the north hole of the rock. The plays include Swallow Rock Tale, Alan Sells pigs, Virtuous Wife Persuade Her Husbands to Get Rid of Gambling. The audiences watch the opera on the other side of the river. It is very crowded. Therefore, hundreds of people come to enjoy the opera three days before and after the sixth day of the month.

Sihui Orange Festival

Sihui City is a famous town of orange. Sihui orange is famous for thin peel, good flavor, and freshness without any residue. From Ming Dynasty, Sihui would select best oranges for the court. As a result, it is credited with tribute orange.

Sihui has developed more than 30 types of oranges and became a real town of orange. Along Guanghai North Line and Silianxian Road, a large orange market is developed.

Every autumn, Sihui holds annual Orange Festival as the medium to holds large business and commercial talks, there are also cultural and artistic performances to attract guest from all over the world.

schedule of events and celebrations