The eagerly anticipated General’s Banquet attracted a bustling crowd to Dapeng Fortress in Dapeng New District on Feb. 29. In addition to local participants, the banquet also drew a significant number of visitors this year.

The General’s Banquet has its origins in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), when it was held to welcome victorious generals returning home. Today, it serves as the highlight of the eight-day Dapeng Qingjiao activity, a traditional folk event in Dapeng that was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage in Guangdong Province in 2007.

The Dapeng Qingjiao activity, held every five years, is a special ritual for the local community to pay tribute to heroic figures and worship Mazu. During the activity that ended Thursday, various events took place, including praying for blessings, parades, traditional performances, chanting, animal releases, and the General’s Banquet.

An aerial view of people sitting at dinner tables at the General’s Banquet — a traditional banquet held every five years — at Dapeng Fortress in Dapeng New Area on Thursday. Liu Xudong

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