STORY: Experiencing temple fair parade in S China with U.S. expat
SHOOTING TIME: April 22, 2024
DATELINE: April 23, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:22
LOCATION: SHENZHEN, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ZACHARIAH SEAN MILLS, U.S. expat in Shenzhen
2. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZACHARIAH SEAN MILLS, U.S. expat in Shenzhen
3. various of cultural performances

STORYLINE:

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ZACHARIAH SEAN MILLS, U.S. expat in Shenzhen
"Today, I went to the Xixiang's Beidi Ancient Temple in Shenzhen's Bao'an District to experience the Sanyuesan Temple Fair of Beidi."

The Sanyuesan Temple Fair of Beidi (the North Deity) is the largest temple fair event in Shenzhen.

This year's grand parade extended around 4 kilometers, with unprecedented scale and extraordinary liveliness, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Xixiang.

More than 100 teams and troupes participated in this event.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZACHARIAH SEAN MILLS, U.S. expat in Shenzhen
"There, I got to see Yingge dancers, dragon and lion dance teams, and a Piaose art troupe. I also got the chance to talk with members of several of the more than 100 teams that participated in the parade. That was a wonderful experience, because it really allowed me to get a deeper sense of what intangible cultural heritage means to the people who keep these traditions alive. The spiritual activities at the Beidi temple were fascinating to watch. It was very moving to witness people lighting incense, saying prayers, leaving offerings, and ringing the temple bell. The atmosphere was really beautiful, and l loved the carp pond in the temple. The openness of the temple and the people taking part in the fair made me feel really welcomed as a foreigner. It really gave me a deeper understanding of local culture and traditions.

The performances during the parade were very entertaining to watch. I've never seen any of these types of events in-person. So l felt really happy to experience it up-close.

All of the performers really put a lot of effort into the parade, and that really impressed me. It was great to see so many young people participating and learning these traditions from elders, because it shows me that China's intangible cultural heritage will continue to thrive into the future."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Shenzhen, China.
(XHTV)