On February 4 (the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month), Liwan launched a 5-day "Xiguan Folk Culture Carnival" at the Cantonese Opera Art Museum. The carnival will run until February 8 (the 29th day of the 12th month of the lunar calendar), allowing residents and tourists to experience the unique charm of the New Year in the Guangfu Culture, an influential sub-culture of Lingnan Culture "Guangfu New Year"in Xiguan ahead of time.

Throughout the carnival, Yongqing Fang will feature Cantonese melodies, traditional snacks, and folk performances, creating a continuous and vibrant atmosphere that awakens the distinctive spring impressions hidden in the hearts of the locals.

Overseas compatriots gather in Liwan for the traditional "Guangfu New Year."

"No matter where they are, Liwan is always their home." Liwan District invited overseas Chinese leaders and representatives of overseas Chinese businesses to "return home" and celebrate the "Guangfu New Year" together.

At the event, overseas Chinese representatives who returned home for the Lunar New Year attended and enjoyed the lively traditional performances. Some overseas Chinese who celebrated the New Year abroad sent blessing videos.

The scene was filled with the festive atmosphere of traditional activities such as tea art, lion dance, and small theatrical performances. Distinguished guests also appreciated performances such as the new Cantonese opera song "Autumn Moon over Getan"(《鹅潭秋月》), face-changing in Cantonese opera, puppetry, New Year's comedy, and the Cantonese tune "Touring the Guangzhou Museum"(《畅游粤博》), marking the beginning of the annual carnival.

Take the Cantonese Opera-themed bus to the Cantonese Opera Art Museum

Liwan District transforms public buses into mobile classrooms for Cantonese opera culture and a platform for showcasing folk culture, launching a free shuttle bus service for the carnival in the form of scheduled and free rides, taking passengers to the carnival venue.

The theme bus integrates Cantonese opera characters and elements such as auspicious dragon and lion dance into its design, featuring a jubilant red color. The interior of the bus is adorned with decorations of traditional folk culture, such as paper-cutting, New Year paintings, lanterns, creating a unique Cantonese opera-themed cultural experience on wheels.

During the ride, Cantonese opera actors and representatives of the Young Pioneers will perform Cantonese opera roles such as Sheng (male), Dan (female), Jing (painted face), Mo (comic), and Chou (clown), teaching passengers basic Cantonese opera movements, sharing knowledge about Cantonese opera, explaining folk culture, and inviting passengers to participate in paper-cutting and other festive folk activities. This immersive experience allows passengers to feel the rich cultural connotations and unique charm of Cantonese opera up close, bringing Cantonese opera "into the hearts" of residents and tourists.

"Xiguan Folk Culture Carnival" Free Bus Line Information

Departure Time: February 4 to February 8, 2024, 14:00-17:00

Route: Culture Gate Main Entrance - Cantonese Opera Museum (Yongqing Fang)

Boarding Guide: Exit B of Cultural Park Subway Station, 200 meters walk to the boarding point

Liwan District has invited outstanding young actors from private theater troupes to perform high-quality Cantonese opera at the Guangfu Stage of the Cantonese Opera Art Museum. In addition to traditional stage performances, Liwan District will also host flash mob Cantonese opera performances at scheduled times in places such as Yuexiu Park and Yongqing Fang, using different methods to showcase Cantonese opera art and culture to residents and tourists.

Moreover, Liwan District will use the museum's gardens and surrounding landscapes to host immersive scene performances in the form of situational dramas, allowing residents and tourists to "be there" and feel the charm of Cantonese opera, promoting the popularization and inheritance of Cantonese opera culture.

Liwan prepares intangible cultural heritage events to celebrate Guangfu New Year

Liwan District has created a traditional craft experience area. During the carnival, residents and tourists can not only experience traditional crafts such as paper-cutting, New Year paintings, lanterns, Guangcai (traditional Guangdong-style porcelain), Tongcao paintings, and Guangdong puppets but also dress up in Cantonese opera costumes and be transformed into Cantonese opera characters by makeup artists.

Additionally, there are several large-scale festive scene installations for visitors to take photos. Residents can experience making traditional Spring Festival foods such as fried oil cakes, pounding rice cakes, making dumplings, and making Tangyuan under the guidance of master chefs, allowing them to taste the traditional flavors of the festival.

Furthermore, calligraphers in the district have been invited to write spring couplets on the spot, bringing good luck to residents and tourists. A living heritage cultural and creative market has been set up on-site, allowing residents and tourists to bring home their favorite intangible cultural heritage products.

During the carnival, the Cantonese Opera Art Museum will also invite experts and scholars in folk customs to give lectures, inviting residents and tourists to participate in lectures on Lingnan folk culture, jointly exploring the origins of traditional festivals and the "most Guangzhou" customs of welcoming the spring.