An annual sacrificial ceremony to welcome the Start of Spring was held on Feb 3 in Miaoyuan village – located in Jiuhua township, Kecheng district, Quzhou, Zhejiang province.

According to the traditional Chinese calendar, the Start of Spring, which is the first solar term of the year, begins on Feb 3 and lifts the curtain on spring.

Wu Haigen, the chief officiant and representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage item – Jiuhua's sacrificial ceremony for the Start of Spring – read the ceremonial text. Then 24 "Spring Welcoming Envoys" holding oil-paper lanterns ran into the ceremonial hall, joyfully proclaiming, "Spring is coming! Spring is coming!"

Among them was a 9-year-old boy from Colombia named Lei Bo, marking the first time an expat has participated in this 3,000-year-old tradition.

A 9-year-old boy from Colombia named Lei Bo (second from right) participates in the annual sacrificial ceremony to welcome the Start of Spring in Quzhou. [Photo/Tide News]

"This festival has become increasingly international in recent years. We hope the Jiuhua's sacrificial ceremony for the Start of Spring, a treasure of humanity, will become more inclusive and diverse," said chief officiant Wu. He added that every year, many expats come to participate in the event.

As the majestic ceremonial ballad echoed through the hall, it seemed to awaken the spring. Colombian boy Lei clapped excitedly to the melodious sounds of the bells and drums.

Back in 2016, China's 24 Solar Terms were officially added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.