Temple fair stages cultural activities, serves tasty Cantonese food

The Eighth Cantonese Temple Fair opened on March 2 in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, providing visitors with an abundance of Cantonese cultural activities and countless delicious foods from across China and the world.

This year's Cantonese Temple Fair, one of the largest of its kind, is being held at Chenghuang Temple and nearby areas including Beijing Road, Huifudong Road and Dafo Temple, all of which are already overflowing with tourists eager to satiate their eyes and taste buds.

Two girls enjoy some roasted sausages at the Eighth Cantonese Temple Fair. [Photo/ycwb.com]

The food exhibition at this year's temple fair offers not only distinctive Lingnan delicacies such as Jun'an Steamed Pork and braised pigeon, but also select Hong Kong specialties like curry fish balls and shark fin soup, a variety of Western cuisines, and even internet-famous foods.

A special online platform has been set up for the seven-day event, enabling visitors to obtain food coupons and order food in advance. Most of the food provided at the fair costs between 15 yuan ($2.4) and 20 yuan ($3.2), anyone can eat their fill for no more than 50 yuan.

A 61-year-old woman surnamed Li is a regular of the Cantonese Temple Fairs. "There is more and more food at the temple fair every year, and the prices are always reasonable; I really enjoyed this year's offerings," she said.

Cultural activities are another major draw of the temple fair. This year, a series of cultural shows kicked off at the Guangdong Provincial People's Stadium on March 4, treating attendees to both artistic shows staged at fixed venues as well as tour performances.

A dragon dance featuring a 56-meter Chinese dragon is performed at the Eighth Cantonese Temple Fair, symbolizing unity among China's 56 ethnic groups. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Highlights include a dragon dance featuring a 56-meter-long Chinese dragon, a performance given by teenagers from Guangzhou and Hong Kong playing a variety of wind instruments, the Jindo Drum Dance by a popular South Korean group, and a boat dance from Pingyuan county.

Visitors were also treated to a traditional festival performance know as Piao Se, which features children dressed up as characters from ancient Chinese mythological and historical stories and integrates opera, magic, acrobatics, music and dance.

Artists from Pingyuan County of Guangdong province perform a boat dance for visitors on March 4. [Photo/Chinanews.com]