The "Silkworm Flower Maidens" competition, a highlight leading up to the 28th Xinshi Silkworm Flower Temple Fair, wraps up on March 15. [Photo/Tide News]
The "Silkworm Flower Maidens" competition, a highlight leading up to the 28th Xinshi Silkworm Flower Temple Fair, concluded on March 15 in Xinshi Ancient Town, Huzhou, Zhejiang province, with six talented contestants standing out.
At the annual silkworm flower temple fair, women — donning the guise of "Silkworm Flower Maidens" — frequently showcase and scatter exquisitely crafted silkworm flowers. These silkworm flowers, typically made with traditional silk-making techniques, stand as emblems of bountiful harvests and divine blessings.
The competition began on March 3, drawing around 200 participants, including contestants from Belarus, South Korea, India, and Uzbekistan.
Anna from Belarus, a student at the Communication University of Zhejiang, expressed her excitement in fluent Chinese, describing the competition as a precious experience. She traveled from Hangzhou to participate, driven by her fascination with China's rich cultural heritage and a desire to immerse herself in the festival's traditions.
With the top six contestants including Anna selected, the 28th Xinshi Silkworm Flower Temple Fair, a cultural extravaganza blending traditional customs with international elements, is set to commence in early April in the ancient town of Xinshi, offering visitors immersive cultural experiences.
The fair, a hallmark folk festival in Deqing county, Zhejiang, is listed as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage item. Initially a ritual for local silkworm farmers to pray for a bountiful harvest, it has evolved into a vibrant platform for cultural exchange, attracting visitors nationwide and beyond, showcasing Huzhou's rich sericulture.
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