The 2025 Water-Sprinkling Festival of the Zhuang ethnic group was planned to launch on August 29 in Lianshan Zhuang and Yao Autonomous County in Qingyuan, northern Guangdong, aiming to inherit folk ethnic culture and promote cultural exchanges.
This festival will last for three days. Apart from traditional water events, 3,500 kilograms of fish will be kept in a designated pool for catching.
An intangible cultural heritage (ICH) parade will be included. The parade will feature twenty performing troupes, including the Wolf’s Tooth Flag Team, the Bronze Drum Dance Team, and the Yao Tambourine Dance (瑶族小长鼓舞) Team, showcasing vibrant performances through the streets of Lianshan County.
Three galas will be held during the event, including a themed gala, an ethnic costume show, and an ethnic music concert, performed by social art groups and the Huadu Cultural Federation's art troupe.
The Lianshan Water-Splashing Festival is a traditional celebration unique to Lianshan Zhuang and Yao Autonomous County in Guangdong. According to the legend, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, seven goddesses bathed and entertained in the Milky Way.
When it comes to noon, the Milky Way flows into the streams and rivers on land, making the waters in Zhuang County extremely cool and clean. It is believed that drinking this water can boost health, and bathing in it can repel misfortune and diseases. Therefore, the Zhuang people gather in the river to shower and celebrate, praying for health and longevity on this day. This custom has lasted for thousands of years.
Author | Liu Yue
Photo | Lianshan Fabu
Editor | Huang Qini, James Campion, Shen He
