Village fair in Qingdao showcases charm of traditional culture

Licun village fair has become a popular spot in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province. Many local residents are flocking to the market to buy floral centerpieces and bonsai for their homes as the Chinese Lunar New Year approaches.

The fair, with a history of over a hundred years, remains as bustling as ever, offering visitors the chance to buy couplets, flowers, and delicious food. As the first large-scale market listed as a municipal-level intangible cultural heritage item in Qingdao, Licun village fair is renowned for being the largest, most popular, and offering the widest variety of goods of any market in Qingdao. It is not just a place to purchase New Year goods, but also a great place to soak in the Spring Festival atmosphere.

Manager of the Licun village fair said that the market lasts for about 16 hours every day. It was established in 1892, opening on the second and seventh day of the lunar month. Initially, the village fair was located above a river channel, but in 2016, it was officially relocated to its current location. The fair now covers an area of over 50 acres, with a building area of 23,400 square meters and an investment of 50 million yuan ($6.96 million).

Licun village fair, with a history of over a hundred years, remains as bustling as ever. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Many local residents visit the Licun village fair to buy floral centerpieces and bonsai for their homes as the Chinese Lunar New Year approaches. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Licun village fair has become a popular spot in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/Dazhong News]