The 4th Xuanyuan Huangdi Sacrifice Ceremony is held in Pujiang county, Jinhua, Zhejiang province, on Nov 1. [Photo/Tide News]

Xianhua Mountain in Pujiang county, Jinhua, Zhejiang province was bustling with activity on Nov 1 as the 4th Xuanyuan Huangdi Sacrifice Ceremony unfolded in grandeur. Hundreds of people gathered to pay tribute to Huangdi, or the Yellow Emperor, the revered progenitor of Chinese civilization.

The event commenced with vibrant displays of local traditions like horse-shaped lantern dances and rolling dragon dances, captivating the audience. Rituals such as recitations of sacrificial texts and traditional dances conveyed the people's collective aspiration for national prosperity and cultural resurgence.

Pujiang is rich in Huangdi culture, as highlighted by the Xianhua Temple Fair which was recognized as a county-level intangible cultural heritage item in 2018. "In 2023, Xianhua Mountain's inclusion in the China Huangdi Culture Alliance marked a significant milestone for Pujiang's cultural legacy," said Director Hong Guorong of the Pujiang Cultural Research Institute.

The ceremony not only paid homage to the Yellow Emperor but also served as a platform to preserve and promote Pujiang's intangible cultural heritage and traditional customs. Shi Zongguang, an intangible cultural heritage inheritor, said, "The event celebrated Pujiang's Huangdi culture and folk customs and fostered a deeper appreciation in our hearts for local traditions."