Zhifu Island "Dongkou Fishing Lantern Festival" National Aesthetic Education Themed Event Kicks Off with Great Fanfare

Source: Dazhong.com

Reporter: Sun Zhongtao | Correspondents: Jiang Meiyu, Zhang Xuejiao | Photographer: Wang Jian

On March 1st, 2026, the 13th day of the first lunar month in the Year of Bingwu, Dongkou Community on Zhifu Island was filled with the sound of gongs and drums and a jubilant atmosphere. The Zhifu Island "Dongkou Fishing Lantern Festival" National Aesthetic Education Themed Event, centered on the theme "Sincerely Praying to the Ocean for Blessings, Wishing for Bountiful Fisheries and a Prosperous Year," commenced with great grandeur. Hosted by Yantai Longhai Industrial Co., Ltd., the event was deeply rooted in traditional fishing culture, integrating intangible cultural heritage performances, folk customs, and prayers with the practice of civilized conduct, revitalizing this millennium-old fishing festival with contemporary relevance.

At 8:00 a.m., the festive atmosphere was ignited by the thunderous sound of gongs and drums. A folk parade team, composed of yangko troupes and dragon and lion dance troupes, assembled and set off along the streets, interacting warmly with residents and tourists along the way. The parade traveled from West Pier to Captain's Pier, and then to the entrance of Longhai Industrial Company. Special performances, including fishermen's prayers and traditional yangko, took place one after another, attracting many citizens and tourists to stop, watch, and take photos. They experienced the unique cultural heritage of the Fishing Lantern Festival up close, creating a strong festive atmosphere leading up to the main ceremony. Among the parade team, two young performers from the Haiyang Longteng Yangko Art Troupe were particularly eye-catching. Eight-year-old Wang Haoyi and Xu Haoxin, dressed in folk performance costumes, wore expressions of earnestness on their young faces. Facing the reporter's camera, the two children enthusiastically introduced their roles: "I am Wang Daniang (Xu Haoxin)." "I are the Tinker (Wang Haoyi)." They also said in childish voices, "The 'Fishing Lantern Festival' is the sea's birthday. We come to perform to pray for a plentiful catch." Their innocent words expressed the festival's most simple and sincere wishes.

At 9:00 a.m. sharp, the main ceremony area officially commenced. The host at the main venue began by saying with deep emotion, "The Fishing Lantern Festival carries our profound folk culture. It is the people's prayers and heritage for a better life on this land." These few words captured the special significance of the Fishing Lantern Festival in the hearts of the local community. Subsequently, Dai Yuanzhi, Chairman of Yantai Longhai Industrial Co., Ltd., delivered a speech, extending sincere festive greetings to all guests. He reviewed the development history of Dongkou and conveyed the sentiments and hopes of the fishing community with heartfelt words: "Each lantern lit is a beacon of hope, illuminating the journey home; each prayer uttered speaks of gratitude and conveys faith. Let us take the fishermen's lanterns as our guide and the ocean as our medium, jointly praying for favorable weather, safe voyages, and abundant harvests."

Following the speech, a series of wonderful cultural performances took the stage. A professional drum team performed, igniting the atmosphere with their powerful and rhythmic beats. The intangible cultural heritage yangko troupe and dragon and lion dance troupe performed again, deeply integrating the agility of traditional yangko with the unique characteristics of fishing culture, showcasing the distinctive folk customs of the Jiaodong Peninsula in every movement. Residents of Dongkou Community also presented self-choreographed and self-performed folk programs, conveying their love for traditional festivals and cultural confidence through the most heartfelt performances. A singer from the salvage bureau passionately performed "Fisherman's Daughter," its melodious voice singing of deep-seated fishing community sentiments. The yangko troupe took the stage once more, their joyful steps and varied formations bringing the festive atmosphere to a climax. Centered on the core concept of "aesthetic education + practice," the entire event allowed the attending public and tourists to immerse themselves in the charm of marine culture, experiencing the festival's themes of praying for safety and celebrating harvests through joy and laughter.

This unique fishing festival not only attracted local citizens but also allowed foreign friends to experience the charm of traditional Chinese folk customs. Nick, an international student from Turkmenistan, participated in the entire event. Speaking about his experience, he could hardly contain his excitement: "Of course I know about the Fishing Lantern Festival. It's a traditional festival where fishermen pray for safety and a bountiful harvest. What impressed me most were the beautiful fishing lanterns and the vibrant folk performances." Nick stated that this immersive experience gave him a deeper understanding of China's "fishing" culture. He planned to share wonderful moments from the event on his WeChat Moments, as well as on overseas platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, to help more foreign friends learn about the Fishing Lantern Festival and Chinese folk customs. "I love China, I love Yantai!" Nick's words served as a beautiful footnote for cultural exchange between China and other countries.

This Zhifu Island "Dongkou Fishing Lantern Festival" National Aesthetic Education Themed Event was not only a splendid feast of fishing culture but also a vivid practice of promoting civilized conduct in the new era. The event both inherited the thousand-year-old prayers of Jiaodong fishing families for "favorable weather, bountiful fisheries, and safe voyages," and injected new momentum into promoting rural cultural revitalization, cultivating civilized rural customs, and activating rural cultural vitality. In the future, Dongkou Community will continue to use the Fishing Lantern Festival as a cultural vehicle, continuously explore the essence of fishing culture, and promote the integration of traditional folk customs with modern civilization, allowing this millennium-old fishing culture to shine anew in the new era, joining hands with all sectors to welcome a brighter future together.