23rd Sichuan Mianzhu New Year Painting Festival Kicks Off

On February 2nd, the 23rd Mianzhu New Year Painting Festival of Sichuan Province opened. Citizens and tourists from all over the country came to Mianzhu to witness the grandeur of Mianzhu's folk customs for welcoming the Spring Festival.

Parade scene [Photo by Wang Yichao]

Mianzhu New Year Painting originated in the Northern Song Dynasty and is also known as Mianzhu woodblock New Year Painting. It is named after Mianzhu City in Sichuan Province, which is known as the "hometown of bamboo paper".

Parade scene [Photo by Wang Yichao]

At the opening ceremony, the sound of drums and gongs resounded through the sky, and the procession, dressed in splendid costumes, slowly marched in a neat formation, vividly reproducing the scenes of ancient Chinese "welcoming spring, enjoying spring, and celebrating spring".

Parade scene [Photo by Wang Yichao]

During the parade, the Chunguan (the official in charge of ceremony, culture and music in ancient official system), carrying lucky bags on their backs and walking on stilts, approached the crowd. They spoke auspicious words while taking out New Year paintings symbolizing "good fortune" from the lucky bags to give to everyone. On the mobile stage, professional actors performed the stories of "Loyalty of Three Kingdoms" and "Great Tang National Liquor", showcasing Mianzhu's long-standing Three Kingdoms culture and Baijiu culture.

Since 2002, the successful organization of the Mianzhu New Year Painting Festival for 23 consecutive years has endowed this city with a rich cultural heritage. Through the medium of New Year paintings and the platform of festivals, Mianzhu has organically integrated folk art with mass culture, promoted the deep integration of culture and tourism, and comprehensively showcased the long history of "Mianzhu, the City of Fine Baijiu and Beautiful New Year Paintings", and starts the tourism brand of "Spending the Chinese New Year in Mianzhu".