Kitchen God-themed festival kicks off in Jinchengjiang

The fourth Kitchen God Cultural Tourism Festival was held in Liujia town in Jinchengjiang district, Hechi from Jan 17 to 18 to celebrate the Festival of the Kitchen God and welcome the upcoming Spring Festival, which will fall on Jan 25 this year.

According to Chinese legend, the Kitchen God Zaoshen is a god in charge of eating, who oversees the moral character of each household. The history of the Festival of the Kitchen God can be traced back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC).

The date of the Festival of the Kitchen God varied according to locations, with people in northern China celebrating it on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, and people in southern China on the 24th day.

This year's 23rd day of the 12th lunar month fell on Jan 17, when the folk activity of "seeing the Kitchen God off" was carried out in Liujia town.

Folk performances and activities were carried out for the festival, such as dragon and lion dances, throwing an embroidered ball, stilt walking, as well as watching festive lanterns.

This year's event attracted more than 3,000 visitors from all over the country.

The town has a long history of worshipping and making sacrifices to the Kitchen God on this day, praying for blessings and good harvests in the new year. The Kitchen God Cultural Tourism Festival has been held annually since 2017.

The Festival of the Kitchen God in Liujia town of the Zhuang people was listed among the sixth batch of Hechi's intangible cultural heritages in 2019.

The Kitchen God Cultural Tourism Festival is held in Liujia town in Jinchengjiang district, Hechi from Jan 17 to 18. [Photo/Hechi Daily]