Festive mood at Baotou temple fair

Large fairs hosted by temples are a staple feature around Spring Festival  in China, and are meant to encourage more people to worship Chinese gods and immortals. Temple fairs feature traditional customs and folk culture, including local snacks, artistic traditions, and folk performances.

The “Lao Baotou (Old Baotou)” Temple Fair has been held in Baotou, North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, for seven consecutive years.

This year’s temple fair started on Feb 11 and will come to an end on Feb 21.

Folk art performances include erentai (a type of local opera featuring one male and one female singer), and Jin Opera.

Photographs of this year's festive activities were recorded by journalists in the city.

A vendor wears a mask of Pigsy, a character form A Journey to the West, to attract tourists at the temple fair, Feb 13. [Photo/Baotou Evening News]