More than 1,000 Chinese people at home and abroad worship Huangdi, or the Yellow Emperor, in Jinyun county, Lishui, Zhejiang province on Oct 7. [Photo/zj.ifeng.com]

A ceremony to worship the legendary ancestor Huangdi, or the Yellow Emperor, was held in Jinyun county, Lishui, Zhejiang province on Oct 7.

Hosted by the government of Lishui, the ceremony was attended by more than 1,000 Chinese people, many living abroad, who paid their respects to Huangdi by burning incense, offering wine, reading eulogies and making bows.

The attendees included over 300 Taiwan residents.

A series of activities were held on the same day, including a forum on cross-Straits cultural-tourism integration, a seminar on cross-Straits calligraphy and several concerts and drama performances.

A dance performance is given at the ceremony to honor Huangdi, or the Yellow Emperor, in Jinyun county, Lishui, Zhejiang province on Oct 7. [Photo/zj.ifeng.com]

In addition, the Taiwan affairs office of the provincial government of Zhejiang held a ceremony to announce the establishment of Jinyun county as the first cross-Straits communication base in Zhejiang. 

Jinyun county has been worshipping Huangdi since ancient times, and over time the ceremony has developed its own standards and rituals. It was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2011.

As the center of Huangdi worship and studies in southern China, the county is striving to integrate Huangdi culture with local tourism, local officials said.

A launch ceremony is held to establish Jinyun county as the first cross-Straits communication base in Zhejiang. [Photo/zj.ifeng.com]