Sanya Dragon King folk custom event celebrates maritime heritage

Residents and tourists gather at Sanya Dongtian Park in Hainan province on March 17 for the five-day Dragon King folk custom event, featuring traditional rituals and cultural markets to celebrate the Dragon Head Raising Day. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Thousands of residents and tourists gathered at Sanya Dongtian Park in Hainan province on March 17 for the opening of the annual Dragon King folk custom event, a local intangible cultural heritage tradition marking the Dragon Head Raising Day on the second day of the second month in the Chinese calendar.

The five-day festival featured traditional rituals, cultural markets, and interactive experiences aimed at preserving Hainan's maritime heritage.

The ceremony began with a traditional procession, including welcoming the deity, paying tributes from five directions, and reading ceremonial addresses. Representatives from five Dragon King temples across Sanya participated, accompanied by ceremonial boat horns played from fishing boats at sea.

Residents and tourists gather at Sanya Dongtian Park in Hainan province on March 17 for the five-day Dragon King folk custom event, featuring traditional rituals and cultural markets to celebrate the Dragon Head Raising Day. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A Dragon King Market opened on March 17, offering traditional Li ethnic practices, including pottery making, spinning, dyeing, and rattan weaving. Also on offer are sections for cultural products, souvenirs, and local cuisine, like sour noodles, pork ribs, seafood, dragon-shaped sugar paintings, and sugar-coated haws.

Following the ritual, attendees joined a hike to collect stamps at cultural sites. Visitors also took part in haircutting customs, interactive games, and Q&A sessions with performers dressed as characters from dragon folklore.

The Dragon King worship tradition, recognized as Sanya's municipal-level intangible cultural heritage, reflects Hainan's historical relationship with the sea. The event represents efforts to integrate cultural preservation with tourism development following the island-wide special customs operations launched in December.

Residents and tourists gather at Sanya Dongtian Park in Hainan province on March 17 for the five-day Dragon King folk custom event, featuring traditional rituals and cultural markets to celebrate the Dragon Head Raising Day. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Residents and tourists gather at Sanya Dongtian Park in Hainan province on March 17 for the five-day Dragon King folk custom event, featuring traditional rituals and cultural markets to celebrate the Dragon Head Raising Day. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Residents and tourists gather at Sanya Dongtian Park in Hainan province on March 17 for the five-day Dragon King folk custom event, featuring traditional rituals and cultural markets to celebrate the Dragon Head Raising Day. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Residents and tourists gather at Sanya Dongtian Park in Hainan province on March 17 for the five-day Dragon King folk custom event, featuring traditional rituals and cultural markets to celebrate the Dragon Head Raising Day. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Residents and tourists gather at Sanya Dongtian Park in Hainan province on March 17 for the five-day Dragon King folk custom event, featuring traditional rituals and cultural markets to celebrate the Dragon Head Raising Day. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Residents and tourists gather at Sanya Dongtian Park in Hainan province on March 17 for the five-day Dragon King folk custom event, featuring traditional rituals and cultural markets to celebrate the Dragon Head Raising Day. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Residents and tourists gather at Sanya Dongtian Park in Hainan province on March 17 for the five-day Dragon King folk custom event, featuring traditional rituals and cultural markets to celebrate the Dragon Head Raising Day. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]