A grand procession is featured during the Taibo Temple Fair in Xinwu district, Wuxi, Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]

The Taibo Temple Fair, a cultural event with a long history, will be held on the ninth day of the Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb 18 this year, in Meicun sub-district, Xinwu, Wuxi.

The festival was initially organized to commemorate the birth of Taibo, the first monarch of the State of Wu during the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC) and the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC).

During previous editions of the temple fair, residents in Meicun and visitors from afar gathered at the Taibo Temple to partake in activities praying for blessings. In addition to the solemn rituals, a variety of folk art performances, including a grand procession featuring over 100 participants, were also highlights of the festival, providing visitors with an unforgettable close-up experience with precious elements of intangible cultural heritage.

The temple fair traditionally hosts an array of food stalls offering delectable treats such as tanghulu (candy-coated Chinese hawthorn on a stick) and sugar paintings.

A craftsman makes a sugar painting during the Taibo Temple Fair. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]