This year's Autumn Taigong Ritual will be held on the morning of Sept. 9th in Nantian Town, Wencheng County. A key highlight is the concurrent 2025 Bowen Intangible Cultural Heritage Fair (Bowen ICH Fair), running from Sept. 5th to 13th . Centered around this centuries-old custom, the fair aims to further explore and showcase Bowen culture, forging a distinct cultural identity.

Last December, “The Spring Festival, Social Practices for Celebrating the Traditional Chinese Lunar New Year,” nominated by China, was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Included as a representative element of the Spring Festival, the “Liu Family Ancestral Worship Ceremony (Spring Taigong Ritual)” from Wencheng County achieved this recognition.

The Taigong Ritual is a clan and local sage veneration practice preserved in Nantian Town, honoring Liu Bowen (Liu Ji), a founding statesman of the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644). The Liu clan observes the biannual Spring and Autumn rituals on the first day of the first lunar month and the 15th day of the sixth lunar month respectively. Dating back to the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty, this tradition has endured for over 500 years.

This Autumn Ritual marks the first since the Spring Ritual's UNESCO inscription. It will take place at the Liuji Temple from 8:00 to 9:00 AM on Sept. 9. The ceremony comprises 25 intricate steps, including burying fur and blood (Yi Mao Xue), ablution, and libation, with participants attending from across the country.

As a living example of ancestral worship, the Taigong Ritual holds significant research value in fields like folklore and sociology. To enhance public engagement, a live traditional culture education class will be offered. A dedicated viewing area at the ceremony site will allow non-descendant visitors an immersive experience of the rituals. Concurrent events include the inauguration of the Taigong Ritual Exhibition Hall and the establishment ceremony for the Taigong Ritual Protection Fund.

The Bowen ICH Fair, centered around the Autumn Ritual, features diverse activities:

Nanshan Night Market at the Inquiring Liu Ji Hall: Features ICH folk performances (e.g., bench balancing, jar juggling, banner dancing), recreating the vibrant atmosphere of ancient night markets. Combined with handicrafts and local delicacies, it forms a themed night economy hub.

Bowen Dao Market at Liuji Temple: Recreates Ming Dynasty street scenes, showcasing local specialties like Xianhua Valley honey and Taoist-themed cultural products. Activities include ICH exhibitions, folk performances, traditional food, high-mountain agriculture promotion, cultural product sales, and interactive games.

Bowen Tea House at Liuji Temple: Offers a leisure space with tea, beverages, board games, ICH handicraft workshops, and pet interaction activities.

Bowen Banquet of Blessings: Participating restaurants and guesthouses in Nantian Town serve special dishes inspired by ancient recipes from “Duoneng Bishi,” using local ingredients and techniques. Dishes include Bowen-style baked pastry, sweet potato and noodles, and Nantian stir-fried pork.

Folk Art Exhibition at Inquiring Liuji Hall: Displays Taigong Ritual-related documents, photos, Bowen cultural products, and offers a stamp-collecting activity.