Nianli Festival: A time-honored tradition in Guangdong

Nianli Festival, meaning "Yearly Rite," is a grand communal worship event deeply rooted in the traditions of the western part of south China's Guangdong Province. Celebrated primarily during the Chinese New Year period, this centuries-old festival is most vibrant in the coastal cities of Maoming and Zhanjiang. Unlike standard Spring Festival celebrations, Nianli extends beyond the New Year, often lasting through Lantern Festival and into the second month of the traditional Chinese calendar, with each village hosting its festivities on different dates.

In Zhanjiang, the saying "Nianli is bigger than Chinese New Year" reflects the festival's deep cultural significance. Long after China's official Spring Festival holiday has ended, the festive spirit only intensifies. Each local village celebrates Nianli in its own distinctive way, blending elaborate rituals with community gatherings to express gratitude, pray for good harvests and strengthen local identity.

This year, Baixing Village in Zhanjiang held its Nianli Festival celebrations on February 14, reviving ancient folk traditions with a spectacular event. A hundred-meter-long parade dragon wound its way through lantern-lit streets, while tables were set for communal feasts, drawing tens of thousands of attendees into the heart of the festivities.

Throughout the celebrations, a dazzling array of performances – including puppet shows, lion dances, acrobatics, magic acts, circus displays and vibrant float parades – enchanted spectators. Fireworks lit up the night sky as families and friends gathered to revel in a joyous atmosphere, immersing themselves in the rich cultural heritage of the province.