The inaugural cross-Strait folk culture and sports festival officially kicked off on Saturday in Shanwei City, south China's Guangdong Province, aiming to strengthen cultural exchanges and the bonds between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

A grand opening ceremony was held for the festival alongside the entry ceremony of the Jieshi Ancient Guard City, a well-preserved Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) coastal defense fortress with deep historical and cultural significance.

The event attracted over 3,000 participants, including Taiwan compatriots, representatives from Taiwan's palaces and temples, and members of cultural, sports, and tourism associations, along with local residents.

Under the theme "revitalizing the ancient guard city, promoting cross-Strait peace," the event featured Taiwan's traditional "youshen", or the "parade of the gods", alongside mesmerizing intangible cultural heritage performances from Shanwei, including Zhengzi Opera, Gaizai Lion Dance, and Five-Color Lion Lantern Dance. These performances showcased the profound cultural heritage of Shanwei and the deep-rooted cultural connections between the mainland and Taiwan.

"It was truly astonishing because we had never participated in such an event before. Folk traditions are, in fact, a shared belief among people across the Taiwan Strait. That's why we sincerely hope events like this will continue, allowing people to see how our hearts remain united across the Strait," said Yeh Lun-Chang, chief advisor of Taiwan's Hu Sheng Temple, a glass temple dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess Mazu.

The festival will run throughout 2025, featuring eight major segments encompassing a variety of folk cultural and sports activities, including temple fairs, intangible cultural heritage performances, food carnivals, and other events.

"After coming to Shanwei and witnessing so many intangible cultural heritage projects, I was truly amazed. I had never realized before just how deeply connected and similar the cultures on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are -- bound by blood and inseparable," said Chang Hsiao-Hung, curator of the Guantianxia Fujian-Taiwan Ancestral Hall Museum, located in Xiamen City, east China's Fujian Province.