Temple Fair of Ciqikou

Ciqikou is a dock in the lower reaches of the Jialing River. For several hundred years, it has been famous for the loading and shipping of ciqi (china) produced nearby. Ciqikou is called the "Small Chongqing", meaning a miniature of Chongqing. Temple fair has been there in Ciqikou for hundreds of years.

Each year, on the first day and the fifteenth day of every month in Chinese lunar calendar, or on the birthday of Sakyamuni and the birthday of Kwan-yin Bodhisattva, or during the Spring Festival, many people come to Ciqikou for the temple fair.

Development of Temple Fair of Ciqikou

Originally, the temple fair of Ciqikou appeared in the form of sacred belief. People took part in the temple fairs and just burned joss sticks, praying for the help and blessings of deities.

Later, with the development of productivity and economy, some folk customs were added to the former simplex temple fair, Dragon-lantern dancing, land-boat dancing, spring-opera singing, story-telling, and street juggling and so on. The happy atmosphere diluted the sacred colors. From then on, there has been a common saying among the local people going to the temple fair or visiting the temple fair.

Contents of Temple Fair of Ciqikou

Apart from the traditional activities of Dragon-lantern dancing, land-boat dancing, spring-opera singing, story-telling, and street juggling and so on, you can visit many other attractions in the temple fair of Ciqikou. The most sophisticated way to visit the temple fair of Ciqikou is to search for the cultural attractions. People always call it "searching, firstly for three gates, secondly for one ode, thirdly for four stone, fourthly for two palaces and one courtyard and fifthly for one temple".

Three Gate

During the temple fair of Ciqikou, you can go to visit the Jinbi Gate in the area of Tongjiaqiao Bridge, the Phoenix Gate in Jinsha Street, the Longyin Gate in the Damatou and the quaint memorial gateway, which take on a look of Ming and Qing architectural styles.

One Ode

Beside the Citonglu Bridge stands a tablet on which engraved an ode about Ciqikou. It is an ode with about one thousand Chinese characters. The ode depicts the one thousand years history of Ciqikou briefly and thoroughly.

Four Stone

During the temple fair of Ciqikou, you can go to see the Shengquan (holy spring) Tablet beside a deep well. It tells the story that once Emperor Jianwen (an emperor of Ming Dynasty) fled to Ciqikou and hid in the deep well. Another stone is also a stone tablet in the Guojielou building on which engraved the inscription, "Small Chongqing" of chairman Lin Sen in the Republican China period. The third stone is a tablet on the Shuimatou, telling the story of hero Hua Ziliang escaped a terrible death. The last stone is a mysterious stone urn in the center of Jialing River. It is said that inside the stone urn hid valuable money and treasures.

Two Palaces and One Courtyard

The two palaces are respectively Baoshan Palace and Wenchang Palace. Both of them are representative Taoism temples of Ming and Qing dynasties in Ciqikou. The courtyard is a Qing building of Zhong family. The courtyard is a typical quadrangle courtyard, which is still in good condition.

One Temple

Visiting temple fair in Ciqikou, Baolun Temple is a must for you. It was built in the Tang Dynasty. It is said that Emperor Jianwen once shaved his head and became a monk in the Baolun Temple, and at that time this temple was the biggest one in eastern Sichuan area.