On December 22, an intangible cultural heritage temple fair was held at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Hall, Yuhua District to celebrate Dongzhi or the Winter Solstice Festival.

Dongzhi or the Winter Solstice, one of the 24 solar terms, falls around December 22 each year. It is one of the traditional Chinese festivals. On the day, the Northern hemisphere has the shortest daytime and longest nighttime. After the day, the daytime will become longer and longer. It became a festival from Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD). People usually eat dumplings or tangyuan (a kind of stuffed ball made of glutinous rice flour) to celebrate the day.

There are many stands at the temple fair displaying intangible cultural heritage skills including tie-dying, paper-cutting, and shadow play; and serving Hunan delicacies like Chengbu oil tea and Tongguan Kiln snacks. Visitors can enjoy themselves while shopping and eating.

Between December 22 and December 31, the temple fair will also launch a series of exhibitions and performances, including traditional song and dance dramas, Changsha flower operas, and intangible cultural heritage items from western Hunan.

Source: en.changsha.gov.cn