China News Service, Beijing, February 10 (Guo Yingting) On February 10, the first day of the first lunar month, the Yaji Mountain Spring Festival Prayer Temple Fair in Pinggu District, Beijing, opened. This temple fair, which has a history of nearly 500 years and combines the taste and culture of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, will last from the first day of the first lunar month (February 10) to the eighth day of the first lunar month (February 17).
The Beijing Yajishan Spring Festival Prayer Temple Fair will be held on February 10, the first day of the first lunar month. Photo by Ma Pingchuan
Pinggu District is located in the east of Beijing, bordering Tianjin and Hebei. The Yajishan Temple Fair originated during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. It is a folk activity with profound historical and cultural heritage and has a history of nearly 500 years.
The period of the temple fair changed during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the Ming Dynasty, the 18th day of the fourth lunar month was the day for offering incense, and the fair lasted for 5 days. In the early Qing Dynasty, it was changed from the first to the 18th day of April, and the fair lasted nearly 20 days. It is the longest among the Empress Temples in Beijing. temple fair. Every year during the Yaji Mountain Temple Fair, tourists from Sanhe, Hebei, Jizhou, Tianjin and surrounding areas gather here to climb to the top of Yaji. Today, the Yajishan Temple Fair has been included in the national intangible cultural heritage list.
The Beijing Yajishan Spring Festival Prayer Temple Fair will be held on February 10, the first day of the first lunar month. Photo by Ma Pingchuan
Entering the temple fair, the 365 steps of Yaji Mountain are decorated with the characters "福", which are scattered all over the floor, implying that tourists can enjoy blessings step by step.
The person in charge said that this year the temple fair launched a series of benefits for the Year of the Dragon to attract tourists to come here to pray. For example, tourists whose zodiac sign is dragon across the country can enter the scenic spot for free with their ID cards during the temple fair; all tourists who purchase tickets can receive a Year of the Dragon blessing gift for free.
"I have been to the Yajishan Temple Fair several times. What attracts me is the strong folk culture of old Beijing here, the strong flavor of the New Year, and the warm people." Ms. Wang from Shunyi, Beijing, specially brought her mother here to celebrate the Spring Festival this year.
The Beijing Yajishan Spring Festival Prayer Temple Fair will be held on February 10, the first day of the first lunar month. Photo by Ma Pingchuan
At the temple fair, folk performances such as flower fairs, car fairs, dragon dances, Chinese flags, drums, and yangko are performed every day to feast the eyes of tourists. Specialties from 18 towns and streets in the region, such as Wenwan walnuts, pyrographed gourds, and wooden wooden rubbings, are also a feast for the eyes. Seals and other seals are also on display; there are also activities such as guessing lantern riddles, experiencing ancient blessing rubbings, and local calligraphers splashing ink and brushing, allowing tourists to personally feel the charm of traditional culture.
During the temple fair, Yaji Mountain Scenic Area, Pinggu Yuyang Ski Resort, Huangsongyu Lishugou and other scenic spots, homestays such as Taoyu Inn and Kaishuanjian, Metropark Hotel, Wanda Jinhua Hotel, and "village cafes" such as Wandering Time, etc., during the Spring Festival Still open for business. (over)