Lantern fair attracts milling tourists in Nanjing

Lantern fair attracts milling tourists in Nanjing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Nanjing, a modern metropolis alongside the Yangtze River, still captures its ancient memories to retain a long and profound history as the once-capital of six dynasties in ancient China.

Its Qinhuai Lantern Fair, which came into being in the Six Dynasties Period (265-581), attracts millions of visitors and residents every year. In 2015, it runs until March 31 in the Confucius Temple Area, putting up large light displays along the Jiangnan Examination Hall and Qinhuai River. The Qinhuai Lantern Fair reached its prime time in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It was said that in the Ming Dynasty, the fair became popular when Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang ordered a spring lantern fair to be held in this region (then the capital) to celebrate both the coming New Year and the prosperity of the country. Since then, this tradition was passed down from generation to generation, to pray for good weather, a happy family, and peace.

Since the 1920s, the fair has been mainly held in the area surrounding Confucius Temple, and usually lasts one month from the first day of January of the lunar calendar. It's later extended into a local folk celebration, which runs into the spring to spread the happiness and good fortune, and grab some tastes of the flowering season.

When the Spring Festival comes, the temple becomes a sea of lanterns. The trees in the temple are ornaments with colorful lights, which look brilliant at night. The Lantern Festival is the most charming, during which the lanterns glisten along the Qinhuai River and people gather to enjoy happiness and serenity. Different kinds of lanterns are for sale at the Confucius Temple. Many children sing songs and play with the festive lanterns.

As one of the four ancient cities in China, Nanjing is also one of the educational and cultural centers in China, where traditional Chinese festivals are all celebrated. On Spring Festival, Nanjing people will post couplets and Door Gods, and some literati even post a picture of cock onto the door. On Lantern Festival, lantern show would be offered, Tomb-sweeping day, spring outing, and Double Ninth Festival, climbing mountains.