Artists perform a dragon dance during a ceremony to mark the beginning of the Boluodan Temple Fair, at Nanhai Temple, in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, March 19, 2024. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

One of Guangdong province’s oldest temple fairs, the Boluodan Temple Fair, kicked off Tuesday night in Guangzhou’s Huangpu district, marking the beginning of the days-long traditional celebration of the birth of a god named “Boluo” who protects the oceans and fishermen. 

Boluodan is widely revered in the Guangdong region, which boasts many fishing villages.

The Boluodan in Huangpu, the starting point of China’s “Maritime Silk Road”, is one of the most influential and draws thousands of visitors annually. Its opening ceremony took place at night for the first time in an effort to boost the nighttime economy and highlight Guangdong’s cultural characteristics.

China Daily's Parker Zheng took the photos.