The intangible cultural heritage folk customs "Wuchang Dance"
In spring, canola flowers bloom like a golden oceanin the Yaxi Cittaslow Scenic Area in Gaochun District, southern Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province.
Performers of intangible cultural heritage folk customs parade in the canola flower fields, which is part of the annual celebration of the Gaochun International Cittaslow Golden Flower Tourism Festival. The performances include "Wuchang Dance,""Big Horse Lanterns" and "Small Horse Lanterns", attracting numerous tourists to the fields.
"Wuchang Dance" was established by villagers on both sides of the Xuhe River in Gaochun, Nanjing, in ancient times to respect and remember Zhang Bo's achievements of digging the Changxing Jingxi River and draining it in the Western Han Dynasty. The canopies, masks and costumes of the Wuchang Dance are of five colors: red, blue, yellow, black and white. During festivals, performing Wuchang Dance represents prayingto the gods for a happy and healthy life.
In addition to the beautiful scenery and folk customs, Gaochun is also known for its local delicacies, such as Toona sinensis fried with eggs and roast duck rolls with spring bamboo shoots and wild vegetables. On Gaochun Ancient Street with a history of more than 900 years, tourists are full of praise for the tofu, crispy rice cakes, sweet glutinous cakes, and glutinous lotus root slices.
In Gaochun, tourists can also feel the unique characteristic of first Cittaslow in China. Born in Italy in 1999, Cittaslow is a global movement whose core is to advocate pure living and protect local characteristics. In 2010, Gaochun Yaxi Town became the first "international Cittaslow" in China.
If you want to retain the slow pace of life in the "Cittaslow," you can choose to stay in Gaochun.
(Source: Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism)
