Largest pilgrimage in Nanyue

More than 1,700 pilgrims from 23 associations in Hunan gathered in Nanyue for a pilgrimage, bringing the scene recorded in historical documents to life On May 26, 2014.According to historical accounts, the pilgrims “held incense, bent their knees on the street every three, five and seven steps. The filial song resounded through the valley.” The pilgrimage has become the largest pilgrimage to Nanyue, or the Southern Mountain.

Nanyue pilgrimage, commonly known as incense pilgrimage, is Hunan provincial intangible cultural heritage project. With history of 4,000 years, it is one of the largest Chinese ethnic folk pilgrimage. In recent years, in order to further consolidate the traditional pilgrimage market and to protect the intangible cultural heritage, a series of preferential policies have been issued in Nanyue to foster pilgrimage market and improve the service to the pilgrims.