Hangzhou temple fair commemorates local hero

Splendid folk celebrations at a temple fair with some 400 years of history in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province is called the "fair of the Marshal". It originated from one man's ultimate deed of self-sacrifice.

Over 30 performance troupes put on a host of remarkable shows, ranging from dance to acrobatics. This is one of the largest temple fairs in the city. People have arrived as early as 5 o'clock in the morning, hoping to share the blessings.

The fair is said to have first started 400 years ago during the Qing Dynasty. Legend has it that a young man wanted to drink from a well, then discovered that it was poisoned. But because other people refused to believe him, he made the ultimate sacrifice and jumped into the well to protect them.

The people then enshrined him in "The marshal temple", and a fair has been held here every year since to commemorate his heroic deed.

The fair has been named a provincial intangible cultural heritage. The people of Zhejiang intend to pass it on to the next generation, as the spirit of sacrifice it represents is a timeless source of moral guidance.