Zhouzhuang welcomes over 220,000 visitors over Spring Festival

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Zhouzhuang, a renowned attraction in Jiangsu province receives 220,000 visitors over Spring Festival holiday that ended on Feb 10. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Zhouzhuang, a renowned attraction in Jiangsu province, received 220,000 visitors over Spring Festival holiday that ended on Feb 10.

A raft of celebrations were staged in the water town during the seven-day holiday, inlcluding whipping the spring ox and welcoming the God of Wealth.

On the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, local people in gorgeous costumes whip the "spring ox", an ox model made of bamboo strips and golden ribbons, ten times. This is believed to bring farmers good luck for the coming harvest. Visitors are also able to participate in the ceremony and touch the ox for good luck.

On the fifth day of the New Year, a colorful paraded down the town's waterways as people go to greet the God of Wealth Shen Wansan, the first millionaire from Jiangnan, the region south of the Yangtze River Delta during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The owner of Zhouzhuang in gorgeous costumes whips the "spring ox", an ox model made of bamboo strips and golden ribbons. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]