Chengmai, the Longevity Land of the World, Celebrates Spring Festival

CHENGMAI, Hainan, China, Feb. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Chengmai County of Hainan Province is the longevity capital of the world. The county was established more than 2,000 years ago. At present, it covers a land area of 2072 square kilometers and a sea area of 1100 square kilometers with a total population of 566,000. An original report by City Channel of CRI Online follows.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130201/CN53086 )

Chengmai doesn't only have historical sites such as Yongqing Temple and Jinshan Temple but also has natural and beautiful scenery like Jialongping tropical monsoon forest tourism region. What's more, dozens of local snacks, including Fushan coffee and Fushan roast suckling pig, will satisfy tourists' appetite.

Unique Spring Festival custom: worship "Gong"

People in Chengmai will butcher pigs in the afternoon of lunar Dec. 29^th. They will also worship "Gongzu" with an offering of pork, internal organs, chickens and ducks, and rice balls on lunar New Year's Eve to please "Gongzu" and to protect the family and keep everyone healthy and safe, as well as to wish for a good harvest and thriving farm animals. People who made vows at the beginning of the year must redeem their vows, which is called "Weilu".

At midnight on lunar Jan. 1^st, all families will offer two rickles of sugarcane bars without cortex, a pomelo, three oranges and pork internal organs as a token of worship to ancestors They will also burn joss sticks and candles. Firecrackers will be set off to celebrate the New Year.

All family members will sit together and have a reunion dinner after burning joss sticks. The bowl must be filled again when people finish the first bowl to imply good things should be in pairs.

People will bring fruit to wish others happy New Year on the morning of lunar Jan. 2 and send red envelopes to show good luck at the beginning of a new year and wish others to get rich in the coming year.

Local activities schedule during Spring Festival in Chengmai

Activity I: Lucky draw of "watching 5D, tasting coffee and winning big prize"
Location: Fushan Town with coffee culture feature

Activity II: Praying at Yongqing Temple and sea sports with motorboat competition
Location: Yingbin Peninsula tourist holiday zone in Laocheng Town

Activity III: Praying at Jinshan Temple
Location: Jinshan Temple garden, Jinjiang Town

Route:

Take a flight from T3 terminal of Beijing Capital International Airport to Haikou Meilan International Airport and take a bus from Meilan Airport to Chengmai County.

SOURCE City Channel of CRI Online