Temple fair brings festive spirit to Changsha

The 2018 Huogong Palace temple fair will kick off on Feb 9, to give a grand display of folk art and culture during the Spring Festival for locals and tourists in Changsha, Hunan province.

Eight major events will be held throughout the Spring Festival temple fair, lasting until March 2, the day Chinese Lantern Festival falls on this year.

The 22-day temple fair will cheer up the ancient city with a range of miscellaneous activities, traditional art performance, blind dates, and food fairs.

Technologies will also be utilized to add more fun to the festivities, enabling participants to use WeChat to create and post their greeting cards.

Two mascots named Tianfu were designed for the Spring Festival temple fair to welcome the Year of the Dog in 2018. [Photo/icswb.com] 

Organizers have conducted a public survey regarding the design of the two mascots for this year's temple fair with the original design only making its debut recently.

Named Tianfu, meaning more blessings, the two mascots are designed with a dog theme in mind to celebrate the upcoming Year of the Dog in 2018.

Lion dance is performed during the Spring Festival temple fair in February of 2017, in Changsha, Central China's Hunan province. [Photo/icswb.com]

The 2018 Huogong Palace Temple Fair Schedule

Feb 9 launch ceremony

Activities include lion dance performances, operas, food fairs and a creative cultural products trade fair.

Venue: Pozi Street (Main venue), Yichunyuan ancient stage on Taiping Street and Huogong Palace (two sub-avenues) 

On Feb 16 - 22 Temple fair

The perfect time to experience folk culture and customs in Changsha, and taste some delicious food. 

Venue: Huogong Palace

On Feb 9 - 11 Public performance

Volunteers are welcome to perform, as awards will be given to those who perform.

Venue: Yichunyuan ancient stage on Taiping Street

On the afternoon of Feb 11 Blind dates party

Traditional wedding customs and interactive games will help singles to gain some insight of Changsha wedding traditions and find their Mrs and Mr Right. 

Venue: Yichunyuan ancient stage on Taiping Street

On the morning of Feb 25 Opera performances

Xiang Opera, flower-and-drum opera and Changsha Tanci, a famous folk-art brand native to Hunan province, and many other art forms will be present. 

Venue: Yichunyuan ancient stage on Taiping Street

On the morning of March 2 Closing ceremony

People dressed up like characters from famous folklores and lion dance performers will parade on the main streets on this day. It will help motivate the hope for the best of the upcoming new year.

Venue: Taiping Street, Pozi Street, Sanwang Street, and Pedestrian Street of Huangxing South Road