"Chunse" Nezha, lion prances, pinwheels spin – all to welcome wealth and vitality! Foshan Shunde's Liandu Village in Leliu Subdistrict once again hosted its famed Lettuce Feast Festival on February 22 (the 25th day of the first lunar month). A record-breaking 8,000 attendees savored local delicacies and immersed themselves in the region's rich folk traditions.
(Photo: Liao Mingcan)
(Photo: Liao Mingcan)
A 400-year-old tradition thrives
Originating in the late Ming Dynasty and flourishing during the Qing Dynasty, the Liandu Lettuce Feast is renowned for its signature lettuce wraps. Among similar festivals in the Pearl River Delta, Liandu's stands out for its grand scale. Every year on this date, villagers, neighboring residents, and overseas compatriots unite under festive red lanterns and decorations to celebrate prosperity.
The star dish—crisp lettuce parcels filled with savory ingredients—embodies blessings for fertility, longevity, wealth, health, and harmony. Each accompanying course on the banquet menu carries its own auspicious meaning, reflecting hopes for a thriving future.
Feeding 8,000 guests required the expertise of Liandu's 12 professional catering teams. Renowned for their mobility, fresh ingredients, and delicious dishes, these teams have become a hallmark of the village and a key part of Leliu's culinary heritage.
Leliu Chunse (Photo: Zhang Yanqing)
A day of cultural immersion
Daytime activities featured charity bazaars, lantern riddle contests, and vibrant Chunse folk parades with lion dances. Evening celebrations included mascot auctions, traditional performances, and live music. "Through these events, we preserve our cultural legacy while sharing Liandu's charm with visitors," said a local official.
More than a culinary event, the festival anchors Leliu's strategy integrating industry, culture, gastronomy, and tourism. By promoting local assets like peach blossoms, catering teams, and the feast itself, Liandu Village has forged a path combining agricultural strength, cultural beauty, and farmer prosperity.
The festival exemplifies Leliu's cultural revival under Guangdong's "High-Quality Development Project." From dragon-eye painting rituals to Confucian heritage events, Leliu subdistrict fosters unique "one-village-one-treasure" traditions while innovating for modern audiences, creating a blossoming cultural landscape.
Reporter | Lan Zhiling
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, James, Shen He
