Co-sponsored by the Fujian Tourism Administration and Putian City with the assistance of related units both at home and abroad the International Mazu Cultural Tour Festival with the Prayers' Ceremony in Commemoration of Mazu's Birthday in the New Millennium is to be held on Meizhou Island, hometown of the Goddess of Mazu and a state-level holiday resort in Fujian Province from April 29 to May 6. It is one of the major tourism activities of Fujian Province as well as an important event of the "New Millennium----China'2000" by the National Tourism Administration.

The prayers' ceremony on the occasion of the opening ceremony will be the most wonderful part of the grandiose festival. By the time, there will be a large-scale theatrical evening party to extol the spirit of the Goddess of Mazu and the ocean culture. Lantern festival will show the peculiar and grand folk-customs in her hometown and large temple fair epitomizing the essence of folk-culture, folk arts and crafts and cuisine of Putian, Quanzhou, Tianjin, Macao and Taiwan. Also on display will be the International Mazu Exhibition of Paintings and Calligraphy, Photograph Exhibition of Mazu Cultural Relics and the ceremony celebrating the first issuance of the special postcard "Legend of Mazu". Besides, flying kites, angling and other athletics and recreational events are to be held on the "Golden Beach" of Meizhou Island.

It is reported that this festival has drawn the attention of the Taiwan tourists and the party concerned in Taiwan is discussing on its participation with the organizing unit. The believers of Mazu in Taiwan are all asking for a direct going to Meizhou by sea.

By then, tourists from China's mainland and Taiwan, of from home and abroad, will have a get together on Meizhou Island to pray for the peace of the world and the reunification of motherland.