With bells and drums resounding, the “Boluo Birth Festival,” a signature event of Lingnan folk culture, recently took place at the South China Sea Temple in Guangzhou.

For the first time, the festival featured both daytime and nighttime programs. By day, visitors watched traditional sea-worship performances and browsed an intangible cultural heritage fair. By night, they could take an immersive tour and experience the bustling atmosphere of a Tang Dynasty night market.

A newly written Cantonese opera segment, The South China Sea Temple, told the love story of Princess Pari and a scholar. The festival’s iconic mascot, the “Boluo Rooster,” appeared in the parade, and related souvenirs were also available for purchase.

Shuttle buses ferrying visitors between the temple fair and the city center were transformed into cultural tour coaches. During the hour-long ride, guides shared the thousand-year history, folklore, and cultural significance of the Boluo Festival, helping preserve the legacy of the ancient Maritime Silk Road.