Sanya boosts off-season tourism with vibrant cultural events

Following the end of the Chinese New Year holiday, tourism in Sanya remains vibrant, with ongoing cultural activities showcasing the city's endless charm.

On Feb 25, the Folkloric Dragon King Sacrifice Customs Intangible Cultural Heritage Week was launched at the Dongtian Park Tourist Attraction.

A major highlight of the event was the Nanhai Dragon King Temple Fair. This cultural market, comprising 33 booths, showcased cultural and creative products, intangible cultural crafts, and local delicacies, which proved hard to resist for visitors. The Li pottery exhibition area next to the market was also popular, with artisans demonstrating the traditional craft of Li pottery jar-making on-site.

March 1 is the second day of the second lunar month and the day of the "Dragon Heads Up" in Chinese tradition. It marks the awakening of dragons and the start of spring.

On the morning of March 1, the event will reach its climax with the dragon king ritual ceremony, which will feature exciting activities such as a dragon king procession, traditional rituals, traditional musical performances, and interactive flash mobs.

Wang Sixian, marketing director of the Dongtian Park Tourist Attraction, said that during Spring Festival, the daily visitor count reached 23,000 people, with the current daily average remaining around 15,000. Upcoming intangible cultural heritage items such as the Li ethnic wood chopping dance, traditional Li textile and embroidery skills, Yazhou folk songs, and Miao dragon dance will be introduced, allowing visitors to experience the charm of Sanya culture up close.

Afterward, Sanya will focus on promoting off-season spring travel, introducing multiple tourism routes and products. In the first quarter, Sanya plans to host 140 large-scale events for both domestic and international tourists covering various areas of interest, such as culture, sports, and entertainment.

The Li pottery exhibition area is crowded with people. [Photo/Sanya Daily]