Mawei, Mazu celebrate Lantern Festival

cctv.com 02-19-2005 13:16

The Lantern Festival on Wednesday traditionally marks the end of Lunar New Year holiday period. A 51-member delegation has left Mawei in southeast China's Fujian Province via the direct cross-Strait ferry service to celebrate with compatriots in Mazu.

Traditionally, the Lantern Festival is regarded as the final climax of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration. And local opera performances are indispensable for the greatest fun.

Chen Naichun, delegation member of Headmaster of Fuzhou Art School, said: "We have rehearsed many programs for the celebration. All the pieces we selected are from masterpieces of Min Opera and other local folk art forms. "

In coming days, many other activities are planned, including lantern displays and receptions.

Li Xiangdong, delegation member of Council Member of Mawei Economic & Cultural Exchange Center, said: "Through these activities, we hope to extend good wishes of the 6 million Fuzhou people to folks in Mazu."

This is the third consecutive year that people in Mawei and Mazu celebrate the Lantern Festival together. As an important part of the celebration, another delegation from Mawei will escort the statue of Chen Wenlong to Mazu for people to worship. Chen Wenlong was a national hero who died on hunger strike 800 years ago.

Editor:Xiang Jing  Source:CCTV.com