The 36th Yaji Mountain Temple Fair kicks off in Beijing's Pinggu district

The 36th Yaji Mountain Temple Fair kicks off in Pinggu district, Beijing, April 28. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The 36th Yaji Mountain Temple Fair kicked off in the Yaji Mountain Scenic Area, Liujiadian town, northeast Beijing's Pinggu district, on April 28. This year's fair will run from April 28 to May 15, lasting 18 days. The opening ceremony attracted visitors from all over to join this celebration with a history of over 500 years.

The temple fair offers various blessing-seeking activities for visitors, including mountain hiking. A major highlight is the over 70 folk performances featuring rich regional flavors, such as Yangko dance and stilt walking. Folk troupes from Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province added to the festivities. Other attractions included traditional dragon and lion dances, totaling 10 performance categories and over 40 shows, enriching this intangible cultural heritage event.

Local food in Pinggu. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Food and entertainment are essential parts of the temple fair experience. Visitors can enjoy delicacies from across the country, local agricultural products, and creative cultural items such as "Peach Blossom Fan" and "Lucky Peach" ice creams, as well as blessing-themed cookies. Local intangible cultural heritage inheritors demonstrated traditional skills on-site, including rubbing techniques and paper-cutting, allowing visitors to appreciate culture amid the lively atmosphere.

After exploring the fair, visitors can unwind at nearby uniquely styled homestays, such as Taoyu Guesthouse in Qianjishan village and Muli Homestay in Wanzhuangzi village, which offer diverse accommodations with full amenities. The surrounding restaurants are also worth a visit, including the all-vegetarian feast at Puyuan Vegetarian Restaurant east of Taiji Square and the signature beef dishes at Beijing Bixiayuan Folk Restaurant, where guests can savor authentic rural flavors.