Baoding Temple Fair in Dazu District of Chongqing

A Millennium-old Fusion of Faith, Art, and Festivity

The Baoding Jixiang Temple Fair is a thousand-year-old folk pilgrimage held in Dazu District, Chongqing. Rooted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Dazu Rock Carvings (大足石刻), it centers around the worship of Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) and blends Buddhist temple rituals with vibrant folk traditions. Recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of China in 2014, it remains one of the largest and most enduring temple fairs in southwest China.

1. Historical Origins

• Founded in the Southern Song Dynasty (12th–13th century) and flourished during the Yuan and Ming periods.

• Developed alongside the carving of the magnificent cliffside sculptures at Baoding Mountain (宝顶山) and the holding of Buddhist Water-and-Land Dharma Assemblies.

• Historical records describe it as “as famous as Mount Emei,” with the saying: “Worship at Emei in the north, and at Baoding in the south.”

• In ancient times, the fair lasted 40–50 days (from mid-1st lunar month to early 3rd). Today, it is typically held for 3–7 days around the 19th day of the 2nd lunar month (Guanyin’s birthday), merged with the Dazu International Tourism & Culture Festival.

2. The Core Ritual – “Carrying the Incense” (架香)

Procession & Formation

• Pilgrims form large Incense Teams, ranging from hundreds to thousands of participants.

• The parade begins with firecrackers and “shooting stars” at the front, followed by banners, gongs, umbrellas, dragon and lion dances, stilt walkers, the Eighteen Arhats, the Eight Immortals, and more.

• At the center, incense altars and sacred tablets are carried in grand procession.

Pilgrimage Route

• Teams pass through towns, temples, and bridges, bowing at every shrine.

• Upon entering the Baoding Mountain Scenic Area, devotees worship at each grotto and hall.

• The pilgrimage culminates at the Thousand-Hand Guanyin Statue in Dafowan (大佛湾), where pilgrims exchange incense, make vows, and offer gratitude.

Buddhist Ceremonies

• At Shengshou Temple (圣寿寺), monks hold birthday rituals for Guanyin, releasing animals in mercy, and chanting for universal blessings.

• Meanwhile, locals perform folk practices such as floating lanterns, burning incense towers, and chanting Buddhist hymns—creating a unique blend of formal temple rites and grassroots devotion.

3. Folk Culture & Festivities

• Performing Arts: dragon and lion dances, Ancestral Fire Dragon of Zhong’ao, Wan’gu Carp Lantern, Sichuan Opera, puppetry, high-pole acrobatics, and evening “Molten Iron Fireworks” that light up Baoding Mountain.

• Heritage Market: live demonstrations of traditional crafts such as Dazu stone-carving, bamboo weaving, paper-cutting, pickling of winter vegetables, and handmade hardware.

• Local Food Delights: try Post Pavilion Crucian Carp (邮亭鲫鱼), Dingjiapo Potatoes (丁家坡洋芋), spicy noodles, and Sichuan-Chongqing snacks at the festive marketplace.

4. Cultural Significance

• Sacred & Social: Rarely elsewhere is a large-scale incense fair held within a World Heritage rock grotto complex, uniting Guanyin devotion with folk traditions.

• Moral Education: The carvings emphasize karmic justice—“good deeds bring rewards, evil deeds bring retribution”—which resonates with the pilgrims’ rituals of repentance, vows, and moral renewal.

• Tourism & Economy: Each fair attracts 100,000–400,000 visitors from across southwest and central China, boosting local dining, lodging, handicrafts, and cultural tourism.

5. Visitor Tips

• When: Lunar February 19th (Guanyin’s Birthday) – usually late March to early April.

  • 2025 marks the 846th edition, beginning on March 17.

• Where: Dazu District, Chongqing – mainly at Baoding Mountain Scenic Area, Shengshou Temple, and Dafowan Thousand-Hand Guanyin.

Experience Highlights

1. ? 4:00 AM – join the incense team to burn the “First Incense” of the day.

2. ? Morning – witness the Grand Incense Offering before the Thousand-Hand Guanyin.

3. ? Afternoon & Evening – enjoy Molten Iron Fireworks and the Carp Lantern Parade.

4. ? Hands-on – join workshops to make your own stone-rubbing prints or bamboo Guanyin figurines.

In a Nutshell

The Baoding Jixiang Temple Fair is a living spectacle of “eternal incense in thousand-year-old grottoes.” It’s where Buddhist devotion, folk creativity, and dazzling performances come together—making it a cultural feast you can see, hear, taste, and believe in.