Water-taking Festival held in Bama to promote culture and economy

Yao ethnic women fetch sacrifice water on Water-taking Festival. [Photo by Gao Dongfeng/Xinhua]

The Water-taking Festival, also called the Water Sacrifice Festival, was held in Bama Yao autonomous county in Hechi on Qixi Festival, known as the Double Seventh Festival, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. This year's Qixi Festival fell on Aug 17.

The Qixi Water-taking Festival came from the legend that the spring water of Changlv Mountain can cure disease. People gather there on the special day to fetch water, celebrating the festival.

This year local people and visitors from across the country took part in activities such as playing bronze drums, observing traditional folk customs, singing folk songs and taking local tours to experience local culture.

The springs of Changlyu Mountain have reached the national standard for potable mineral water and have an annual yield of 850,000 metric tons. They have been listed as a national protected geographical indication area. Depending on the abundant water resources, Bama has made efforts seeking investment to boost the development of local economy.

As 13 enterprises produced 756,300 metric tons of drinking water last year, the county achieved a total industrial output value of 1.3 billion yuan ($188 million), and offered more than 2,000 jobs to the local people.

Visitors from Nanning experience local folk customs in Bama. [Photo by Gao Dongfeng/Xinhua]