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A Song Dynasty (960-1279) style water wedding in Shaoxing Rice Wine Town. [Photo/Tide News]

Shaoxing Rice Wine Town will hold a three‑day cultural festival during the 2026 New Year holiday, inviting residents and visitors to immerse themselves in the unique charm of yellow rice wine culture and water‑town scenery through tastings, performances, and interactive experiences.

Each day features a different theme. The first day, "Where Past Meets Present", includes a ceremonial barrel‑opening welcome, a graceful Song Dynasty (960-1279) style water wedding, interactive street parades, and traditional hanfu music performances. The second day, "Intangible Heritage", features the large‑scale historical scene Empress Quan's Homecoming and the classic shadow‑puppet play Drunken Years in the Lamplight. The third day, "Opera Elegance", will feature a water‑stage Yue Opera performance blended with shimmering water scenery.

As a New Year's gift, the town will give away a total of 10,000 bottles of Kuaijishan 1743 yellow rice wine each day during the three‑day event. Visitors arriving from outside Shaoxing can claim a bottle by presenting their train or bus ticket, and those who spend 39 yuan ($5.60) or more at any town merchant can also receive a bottle with proof of purchase.

The town is also launching an interactive adventure script hunt where visitors can earn antique‑style vouchers by checking in, shopping, or interacting with NPCs, which can be exchanged for souvenirs such as yellow‑wine coins and zodiac pendants.