On September 16th, Guangzhou's Liwan District hosted its 14th edition of a traditional folk festival at Yongqing Fang in Liwan Lake Park, a vibrant celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The event, drawing on the cultural resources of Liwan Lake Park and the Pan Tang ancient village art district, offered an immersive cultural experience for citizens and tourists alike, showcasing the rich heritage of the Xiguan through a blend of art and tradition.
As night fell, Liwan Lake Park came alive with a spectacular display of folk culture. The "Moon Over Liwan" performance at the Xiguan Theater, with the antique-style Wenlan Garden as the backdrop and the Chuanjiang Square as the stage, presented the audience with an audio-visual show themed on the Mid-Autumn Festival, showcasing the local culture of Liwan. "Flowers and Moon", a blend of Chinese and Western string music, transported the audience back in time, offering a glimpse into the lives of the elegant ladies and gentlemen of the Xiguan era. Chang'e and the Jade Rabbit made a contemporary appearance in 2024 and a modern twist was added as artists, craftsmen, and cultural heritage bearers presented a variety of traditional and modern art forms, including Lingnan wushu (martial arts), guqin, aroma technique, and dizi (Chinese flute) performances, contemporary flower arrangements, and plant tie-dyeing, highlighting the diverse aesthetic of Liwan.
Throughout the event, participants were invited to explore the art spaces of Pan Tang, engaging in a treasure hunt that included traditional flower-throwing for wishes, agility tests with shuttlecocks and gongs, and tea tastings that delved into the district's tea culture. The art spaces, managed by 14 local brand curators, transformed into interactive checkpoints, offering a mix of playful games and artistic challenges.
The evening also showcased the dynamic wushu and lion dance performances by young performers, led by He Zhongjian, the vice chairman of the Wushu Association of Liwan District and the director of the Feihong Wushu Culture Center.
The Center serves as one of the popular "check-in" and stamp-collecting spots for the event. In 2020, He moved his center from Fangcun Baihedong to Pan Tang. Over these four years, he has been teaching his young learners in the small square outside the center, spreading the essence of Lingnan culture, including wushu and lion dance. "The cultural atmosphere and humanistic essence of Pan Tang have become increasingly rich, and the cohesive power of Xiguan culture is growing stronger, drawing many students to learn wushu," He remarked. He holds a deep emotional connection to Liwan Lake Park, as his mother was involved in the excavation project of Liwan Lake in the late 1950s. "Relocating the wushu center back to the place where I grew up is also a tribute and acknowledgment of Liwan's culture."
At the Liwan Lake Chuanjiang Square, the Mid-Autumn Cultural and Creative Market by the Western District Post Office of China Post Group has drawn the attention of numerous citizens and tourists. The Western District Post Office has thoughtfully established a limited-time Mid-Autumn mobile post office at the venue, offering a unique opportunity for those striving and chasing their dreams in Guangzhou to send messages of love and well-wishes to their hometowns. The market also featured special experiences with traditional crafts, such as lacquer-coated fan making, allowing participants to immerse themselves in the district's cultural richness.
Source: Lingnan on the Cloud
