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Yueju Opera, temple fairs and plum blossoms for Lunar New Year
By Wu Huixin |
January 8, 2013, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Chinese Lunar New Year in Hangzhou features many activities, such as watching Yueju Opera, attending temple fairs, welcoming the God of Wealth and appreciating plum blossoms in winter.
The Lunar New Year falls on February 10 this year.
The Hangzhou Tourism Commission will launch a campaign to boost tourism during the Spring Festival. It features entertainment activities, discounted admission to scenic areas and discounts at restaurants and hotels.
Shanghai Daily picks three activities.
Romantic cave opera
Yueju Opera is a graceful, feminine opera in which most male roles, typically young nobles and scholars, are played by women. The themes are romantic, the music is gentle and melodic, and there are no crashing cymbals and martial arts. It was originated around 1850 in Shengzhou in Zhejiang Province and became highly developed and popular around China.
Like other traditional operas, Yueju Opera is on the wane, but there are opera schools and attempts to revive it. It's very popular with older people.
The Huanglong Cave Yueju Opera Group will perform daily in the Huanglong Cave Scenic Area north of the West Lake from February 12. The exact performing time is not set yet.
Address: 69 Shuguang Rd
Tel: (0571) 8797-9869
Appreciating plum blossoms
Since plum trees blossom in the freezing winter, despite harsh wind and snow, the plum blossom is a symbol of courage and hardiness and a reminder that spring will come.
This scenic spot, Ling Feng Tan Mei, contains a famous temple with hundreds of plum trees that are expected to be in blossom around February 1.
The temple dates back to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (AD 907-979). Because of its beauty and scenic location, it was praised by the poet Su Dongpo. The temple fell into disrepair and ruin later. In the reign of Emperor Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty (1368-1644), the temple was rebuilt and hundreds of plum trees were planted around it. It became a famous spot to view the plum blossoms in winter.
Again it was destroyed during civil strife in the Republic of China Period (1911-1949), but it was restored by the Hangzhou government in the 1950s; again plum trees were planted and again they can be appreciated.
Other places to see the plum blossoms in Hangzhou are Solitary Hill and Xixi Wetlands.
Address: 1 Taoyuanling Rd
Tel: (0571) 8796-1908
Song City Temple Fair
Miaohui, or temple fairs, are lively carnival-like gatherings around the Lunar New Year. They feature worshipping deities, burning incense, guessing lantern riddles, folk arts, acrobats and street performances, traditional music and culture and plenty of food and shopping.
Song City is a theme park featuring culture of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Every year a big Spring Festival carnival is staged there. This year, the temple fair will be held during February 10 and 24.
Visitors can watch folk arts demonstrations, embroidery, face-painting, paper-cutting and batik. Shadow puppet shows, street performances and other shows will also be staged.
The fifth day of the Lunar New Year is the day to welcome the God of Wealth, which falls on February 14 this year. Visitors can pray for good luck and fortune in the coming year in the temple of the God of Wealth inside Song City.
On that day the temple will hold a traditional ceremony to worship the god. One man will dress like the God of Wealth, scattering red envelopes to the crowd.
Address: 148 Zhijiang Rd
Tel: (0571) 8731-3101
The Lunar New Year falls on February 10 this year.
The Hangzhou Tourism Commission will launch a campaign to boost tourism during the Spring Festival. It features entertainment activities, discounted admission to scenic areas and discounts at restaurants and hotels.
Shanghai Daily picks three activities.
Romantic cave opera
Yueju Opera is a graceful, feminine opera in which most male roles, typically young nobles and scholars, are played by women. The themes are romantic, the music is gentle and melodic, and there are no crashing cymbals and martial arts. It was originated around 1850 in Shengzhou in Zhejiang Province and became highly developed and popular around China.
Like other traditional operas, Yueju Opera is on the wane, but there are opera schools and attempts to revive it. It's very popular with older people.
The Huanglong Cave Yueju Opera Group will perform daily in the Huanglong Cave Scenic Area north of the West Lake from February 12. The exact performing time is not set yet.
Address: 69 Shuguang Rd
Tel: (0571) 8797-9869
Appreciating plum blossoms
Since plum trees blossom in the freezing winter, despite harsh wind and snow, the plum blossom is a symbol of courage and hardiness and a reminder that spring will come.
This scenic spot, Ling Feng Tan Mei, contains a famous temple with hundreds of plum trees that are expected to be in blossom around February 1.
The temple dates back to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (AD 907-979). Because of its beauty and scenic location, it was praised by the poet Su Dongpo. The temple fell into disrepair and ruin later. In the reign of Emperor Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty (1368-1644), the temple was rebuilt and hundreds of plum trees were planted around it. It became a famous spot to view the plum blossoms in winter.
Again it was destroyed during civil strife in the Republic of China Period (1911-1949), but it was restored by the Hangzhou government in the 1950s; again plum trees were planted and again they can be appreciated.
Other places to see the plum blossoms in Hangzhou are Solitary Hill and Xixi Wetlands.
Address: 1 Taoyuanling Rd
Tel: (0571) 8796-1908
Song City Temple Fair
Miaohui, or temple fairs, are lively carnival-like gatherings around the Lunar New Year. They feature worshipping deities, burning incense, guessing lantern riddles, folk arts, acrobats and street performances, traditional music and culture and plenty of food and shopping.
Song City is a theme park featuring culture of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Every year a big Spring Festival carnival is staged there. This year, the temple fair will be held during February 10 and 24.
Visitors can watch folk arts demonstrations, embroidery, face-painting, paper-cutting and batik. Shadow puppet shows, street performances and other shows will also be staged.
The fifth day of the Lunar New Year is the day to welcome the God of Wealth, which falls on February 14 this year. Visitors can pray for good luck and fortune in the coming year in the temple of the God of Wealth inside Song City.
On that day the temple will hold a traditional ceremony to worship the god. One man will dress like the God of Wealth, scattering red envelopes to the crowd.
Address: 148 Zhijiang Rd
Tel: (0571) 8731-3101
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