Silkworm Festival brings visitors to Tongxiang

2019-04-01 05:10:30 source: 浙江省人民政府新闻办公室


The group learns how to dragon dance. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]


Foreign writers, photographers and diplomats from 10 countries traveled to Tongxiang city, East China's Zhejiang Province, for a two-day event called Discover Tongxiang, held March 30-31 by the Information Office of Tongxiang Municipal People's Government.


The group members from Great Britain, the US, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Morocco, and Hungary experienced the region's folk traditions firsthand, together with thousands of local people, at the opening ceremony of Heshan Town's Second Silkworm Festival. The ceremony was characterized by traditions like honoring the silkworm god, stilt walkers and dragon dances.


A traditional ceremony honoring the silkworm god. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]


Reporters photograph stilt walkers at the festival. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]


Travel blogger Yvonne Horst has lived and worked in China for six years, and this was her first time in Tongxiang. She said that she understood a little about Tomb Sweeping Day, about how it's a day for honoring one's ancestors. She said that she was able to see there's a big event to celebrate the harvest in Tongxiang, and talked about how it gave her a chance to learn more about the local culture.


Tongxiang is located in northern Zhejiang Province. Under the authority of Jiaxing city, the area is famous as the hometown of the silkworm. Silkworm and mulberry traditions have long played an important part in local people's lives. This particular festival, held during the tomb-sweeping period, is an ancient event held by silk farmers to pray for favorable weather and a good harvest of silkworm and mulberry. It is also an integral part of Chinese silk culture.


Reporters experience the silkworm tour. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]


"Many young people come to the festival, which is impressive to me. I think it's important for the local heritage," Yvonne said.


First-time visitors were able to learn about some of the different facets of silk farming, such as spinning and weaving, leaving with a greater understanding of Tongxiang.


Reporters learn about silk farming, or sericulture. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]


A reporter learns about silk spinning. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]


Kyle W Porter from the Hangzhou Association of Foreign Writers was one of these people, and says that he now knows how hard it is to make a bed of silk.


"How much time and effort it takes to complete this process again and again," he said.


The local tomb-sweeping day traditional food also left an impression on foreign visitors.


Migul Roberg from Chinese Foreign Publishing House, tastes some wheat cake. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

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9803677 Silkworm Festival brings visitors to Tongxiang public html

The group learns how to dragon dance. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]


Foreign writers, photographers and diplomats from 10 countries traveled to Tongxiang city, East China's Zhejiang Province, for a two-day event called Discover Tongxiang, held March 30-31 by the Information Office of Tongxiang Municipal People's Government.


The group members from Great Britain, the US, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Morocco, and Hungary experienced the region's folk traditions firsthand, together with thousands of local people, at the opening ceremony of Heshan Town's Second Silkworm Festival. The ceremony was characterized by traditions like honoring the silkworm god, stilt walkers and dragon dances.


A traditional ceremony honoring the silkworm god. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]


Reporters photograph stilt walkers at the festival. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]


Travel blogger Yvonne Horst has lived and worked in China for six years, and this was her first time in Tongxiang. She said that she understood a little about Tomb Sweeping Day, about how it's a day for honoring one's ancestors. She said that she was able to see there's a big event to celebrate the harvest in Tongxiang, and talked about how it gave her a chance to learn more about the local culture.


Tongxiang is located in northern Zhejiang Province. Under the authority of Jiaxing city, the area is famous as the hometown of the silkworm. Silkworm and mulberry traditions have long played an important part in local people's lives. This particular festival, held during the tomb-sweeping period, is an ancient event held by silk farmers to pray for favorable weather and a good harvest of silkworm and mulberry. It is also an integral part of Chinese silk culture.


Reporters experience the silkworm tour. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]


"Many young people come to the festival, which is impressive to me. I think it's important for the local heritage," Yvonne said.


First-time visitors were able to learn about some of the different facets of silk farming, such as spinning and weaving, leaving with a greater understanding of Tongxiang.


Reporters learn about silk farming, or sericulture. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]


A reporter learns about silk spinning. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]


Kyle W Porter from the Hangzhou Association of Foreign Writers was one of these people, and says that he now knows how hard it is to make a bed of silk.


"How much time and effort it takes to complete this process again and again," he said.


The local tomb-sweeping day traditional food also left an impression on foreign visitors.


Migul Roberg from Chinese Foreign Publishing House, tastes some wheat cake. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

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silk;Tongxiang;Zhejiang;travel;culture;sericulture;China