Temple fairs remain a firm favorite(2)

Lanterns are a signiture feature of the temple fair at Ditan Park.[Photo by Chen Xiaogen/China Daily]

This year marks the 11th Cultural Week for Tiantan Park, or the Temple of Heaven. Between Feb 19 and 23, performers will act as emperors, guards, officials, dancers and musicians and show visitors the solemn ancient worship ceremonies.

As Beijing is a second home for many expats, other fairs have departed from historical orthodoxy, particularly in recent years.

In Shijingshan Amusement Park, the organizers are hosting a "foreign-style" temple fair, which will include Western as well as traditional cultural elements. Organizers said the fair will be similar to a foreign carnival parade and will include a four-dimensional cinema alongside other events.

Performances such as Japanese fan dances, a Korean long-drum dance, Latin dance, a Russian song and dance performance, a cartoon show and children's activities will also feature.

"Spring Festival used to be a favorite time for children. We posted handwritten couplets on both sides of the door, paper-cuttings with traditional images on the window and we set off firecrackers, put on new clothes and went to temple fairs where there were all kinds of toys and snacks," said Yu Dawu, a 66-year-old painter, who recently published a picture book called Spring Festival in Beijing for children to see how people used to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Although the festival celebrations in Beijing are not as lively as they used to be, Yu said he believed the holiday's core concept hasn't changed. "Family reunions and the earnest hope for a better life in the coming year remain the same," he said.

To avoid potential risks, the Beijing tourism authority has enhanced its traffic monitoring system and ordered no free gifts to be handed over during the temple fairs.

According to the authority, the number of tourists in Beijing during Spring Festival will soar and the range of celebrations mean there are a lot of potential risks to manage.

Wang Yanyong, director of the Tourism Development and Planning Research Center of Beijing Jiaotong University, said temple fairs should connect more with current trends instead of repeating old traditions.

"Different years should have different themes and they should combine with the current entertainment trends," said Wang. "More high-tech elements should be integrated into the design of tourism products."

"Temple fairs are just like the dumplings we eat every Spring Festival Eve, they may be old and unchanged symbols of Chinese New Year, but there is still space for innovation."