Traditional silkworm flower temple fair lights up Huzhou

On April 4 this year – which was Qingming, or Tomb-Sweeping Day – the annual silkworm flower temple fair aimed at praying for a rich cocoon harvest was held in Xinshi Ancient Town, Huzhou, located in east China's Zhejiang Province. A host of fascinating folk performances, such as the magnificent procession of elaborately decorated flowered sedan chairs and the enchanting scattering of silkworm flowers over the surface of water, drew crowds of locals and tourists.

Holding silkworm flower temple fairs during early April, precisely in the Qingming period, represents one of the time-honored silkworm-related customs in the Taihu Lake area, which has been a renowned production region of mulberry silk in China since ancient times.

In Xinshi Ancient Town, women – donning the guise of "Silkworm Flower Maidens" – frequently showcase exquisitely crafted silkworm flowers at the temple fair. These silkworm flowers, typically made with traditional silk-making techniques, stand as emblems of bountiful harvests and divine blessings. Through engaging in such activities, sericulturists not only underscore their profound emphasis on sericulture production but also convey their heartfelt and optimistic aspirations for the future.