Temple fair held to honor folk tradition

Shehuo actors perform at a temple fair, Henan province, Feb 6, 2023.Feb 6 was the 16th day of the first lunar month, according to local tradition, dozens of Shehuo teams take turns performing lion dances, walking on stilts, yangko (a popular rural folk dance) and other festive activities at a local temple fair in Xun county, Henan province. Gongs and drums were very lively; firecrackers could be seen throughout the festivities, forming a distinctive cultural landscape. With a history of over 1,600 years, the ancient Temple Fair of the first lunar month in Xunxian county is known as the "living fossil" of folk culture. It is a Chinese folk culture protection project and was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.