The 3rd Blessing Tourism Festival, at the Guangsheng Temple, in Hongtong county, Shanxi province, got off to a good start, on April 15, with a theme of "Blessing the Guangsheng Temple and protecting the nation", with six major events, including a Buddha's blessing, Water God ceremony, dramatic performance, artistic performance, snake fair, and business fair.

Guangsheng Temple, at the foot of Huoshan Mountain, 16 km from Hongtong county, was built during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 147), and rebuilt during the Yuan Dynasty (AD1303), with its structure still mostly resembling the Yuan style. It was among the first group of cultural relics to be given key national protection.

There will also be a traditional temple fair running simultaneously with the festival, which lasts for five days, till April 20. The first of these festivals was held in 2011 and it has gradually grown in size and influence, and has become a sort of cultural calling card for the temple, promoting the local economy and social development.

Edited by Roger Bradshaw