The 11th Wurigong Festival of the Hezhe ethnic group was held in Jiamusi City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from July 2 to 3. Nearly a thousand Hezhe people from Beijing, Harbin, Tongjiang, Shuangyashan and other places took part in the festival, representing 15 different teams – and all dressed in colorful festive costumes.

The Wurigong Festival is an annual event held on the 15th day of the fifth month in the traditional Chinese calendar, lasting for two or three days. Rooted in the customs of the Hezhe ethnic group, the festival embodies the essence of "Wurigong," which translates to "celebration and joy" in the Hezhe language.

It coincides with the crucial spawning period of fish in the Songhuajiang River, Heilongjiang River and Wusuli River. To ensure the ecological balance of fishery resources, fishing activities are temporarily halted in these rivers during this period.

This grand festival beautifully intertwines Hezhe folk culture with thrilling sports events. During the daytime, various sports competitions are held, including swimming, rowing, net casting and archery. These competitions are all related to the fishing and hunting life of the Hezhe people. Now, this grand event has evolved into a large-scale folk cultural gala that includes the arts, sports, language, cuisine and traditional crafts.

On May 24, 2021, the Wurigong Festival of the Hezhe ethnic group was approved by the State Council, China's cabinet, and included in the fifth batch of the representative list of national intangible cultural heritage.

This year the two-day Wurigong Festival featured cultural and sports competitions between China and Russia, cultural exchange performances and bonfire parties.