On March 9, the 17th day of the first Chinese lunar month, the traditional Nianli Festival was held at Zhongping Community in Gaozhou, Maoming, Guangdong. Tens of thousands of local people joined the grand parade featuring the "No.1 Boat in Western Guangdong" and a spectacular torchlight festival.
During the day, the giant ceremonial boat, standing 7 meters tall and weighing about 1,000 kilograms, was carried through the village by more than 20 young men. Villagers set off firecrackers to pray for blessings.
At 7:00 p.m., thousands of villagers holding torches formed a long "fire dragon", escorting the decorated boat back to the temple.
Nianli is an ancient folk custom with a history of thousands of years in the Lingnan region. Today, it has become an important event for strengthening local bonds and community spirit.
Author: Qiu Qian
Photographers/Videographers: Feng Jieyun, Zhou Liang, Yan Zhixiong, Li Zhenjie, Liu Fusi Ming
Revised by Huang Qini
