Tourists gather in Bama to celebrate Sanyuesan Festival

More than 300 tourists from around Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region gathered in Bama Yao autonomous county of Hechi on March 26 to take part in the grand celebration for the annual Sanyuesan Festival with local residents.

Sanyuesan, which refers to the third day of the third month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar, is a traditional festival for many ethnic groups across China. This year's festival kicked off on March 26 and will last until April 26.

This batch of tourists is the first large group of tourists to arrive in Bama after Guangxi issued the guidelines on accelerating the comprehensive resumption of the cultural and tourism industries on March 24.

"I haven't come out and been relaxed for a long time due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia," said a tourist surnamed Li from Nanning, the capital city of Guangxi. "With the spring blossoms and the Sanyuesan Festival, I wanted to visit Bama and see for myself what is happening there."

People in traditional ethnic clothing welcome tourists at the entrance of Changshou (Longevity) Island Scenic Area in Bama Yao autonomous county of Hechi on March 26. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Tourists took a boat at Yuren Wharf of Cifu (Blessing) Lake and then visited Changshou (Longevity) Island, a national 4A-level scenic area located in the middle of the lake.

Cultural performances like folk songs sung in an antiphonal style and folk dances were staged, along with exhibitions of the rich culture of ethnic traditional clothing. Experience activities, such as throwing embroidered balls, bronze drum dances, making glutinous rice cakes, and hand embroidery, also added to the fun and entertainment for the tourists.

While there were plenty of festive celebrations, efforts for novel coronavirus epidemic prevention and control in Bama have not been loosened yet.

Thermometers, liquid soap, and disinfectant fluid have been prepared at the entrance of Changshou Island Scenic Area. Tourists needed to have their body temperature tested, register their health conditions, and present their green health code before being allowed to enter the scenic area with facial masks.

"The natural scenery of Changshou Island is as beautiful as a landscape painting, and the folk activities held here for the Sanyuesan Festival are rich and colorful," said a tourist surnamed Lin from Nanning. "The scenic area has also taken a lot of epidemic prevention measures, which made us tour around with happiness and peace of mind."