June 23rd in Baisha Town
As one of the most interesting festivals in Yangshuo, June 23rd on the lunar calendar is as important as Spring Festival to the people in Baisha town. This is the birthday of Guanyu, a wise and brave hero in Chinese history. The people will hold many kinds of activities to show their respect and commemoration to him on this day every year. Offering sacrifice to pray for wealth, health and good luck, they will parade in the street performing ethnic dances and riding horses. Some of the young will act like Liubei, Kongming and Zhangfei who are Guanyu's historical comrades.
One of the festival's highlights is an exciting and competitive game called 'Qiang Hua Pao'. You can win four standard prizes by catching a red ring sent to the sky with a Roman candle. The ring is made of iron with a diameter of only three centimeters. The people will be divided into 10 teams consisting of more than 10 strong men. There are four rounds, and the ring, as the prize of the round, is sent to the sky. At the same time, each team will try their best to grab it. Nowadays, this festival has been developed more colorful and become one of the best local festivals in Yangshuo. Basketball, chess competitions as well as other interesting activities also will be held during the festival.
|
