SUIZHOU, China, May 23, 2025 — A significant ancestral worship festival honoring the Chinese Yan Emperor took place on May 23 in Suizhou, Hubei Province, central China.
This year’s event, distinguished by elaborate ritual music, aimed to establish a national-level sacrificial ceremony grounded in cultural heritage and reflective of contemporary values.
On the morning of May 23, Lieshan Ancestral Worship Square resonated with drumbeats and the sounds of chimes. Guests of honor stood in orderly rows and, following the ceremonial procession, a grand ceremony commenced to pay tribute to Yan Emperor Shennong in a solemn setting.
The 26th day of the fourth lunar month is observed annually as the birthday of Yan Emperor Shennong. This year, Suizhou initiated an online co-sacrifice, using technologies like AI interaction with Yan Emperor, virtual candle lighting and flower offerings, enabling Chinese descendants worldwide to participate in the ceremony remotely and offer their blessings online.
The festival, organized by the People’s Government of Suizhou City and inaugurated in 2009, saw the Suizhou Shennong sacrificial ceremony recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2011. It has evolved into a prominent cultural event embodying Chinese civilization, a symbol of the Chinese nation’s resilience, and a link connecting Chinese people globally.
The festival was jointly hosted by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the Association for Yan Huang Culture of China, and the People’s Government of Hubei Province.
During the event, exchange and cooperation platforms focused on specialized vehicles, emergency response, cultural exchange, and cultural and tourism promotion were also held, seeking to attract investment projects and promote unique products and services internationally.
Source: The People’s Government of Suizhou City
CONTACT: Contact person: Mr. Liu, Tel: 86-10-63074558
“`
