To celebrate the Spring Festival - a traditional Chinese New Year practice - being successfully inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a temple fair in the name of the intangible heritage, also the 4th Xihu District Spring Culture Festival, was held at the Mituo Temple Park on January 15.

In response to Xihu District’s call for a reading fever among the public, the fair themed “Reading in Xihu · Let Heritage Meet You” features activities such as book markets, exhibitions of intangible cultural heritage, folk customs show, and a stamp collection and prize exchange.

The site was filled with various activities rich in the flavor of the New Year, including literary and artistic performances, distribution of spring couplets, book markets, craft fairs, and demonstrations and experiences of intangible cultural heritage skills. Citizens and tourists not only enjoyed a visual and cultural feast but also deeply experienced the charm of traditional culture.

The book market saw the presence of four bookstores, i.e. the District Library, When West Lake Meets Dunhuang, Xiaofeng Bookstore, and Huaxing Study. They recommend good publications and sell books and gifts centered on Spring Festival and folk customs. You can also borrow books on-site at the District Library stand.

The folk show gathers a variety of welcomed heritage foods and snacks, including Mr. Yang’s Pastry, Jiangcun Fish Ball, Shangsi Cake, Liuxia Peach Bun, sugar painting, candied haw, Xiao Re Hun pear syrup, and Yi Jia Xian delicacy, etc.

You can also find and check heritage arts for firsthand experience, such as Ronglong Bamboo Weaving, Lady Embroidery, and Full-shape Rubbing. An engraving masterpiece called “Read the West Lake”, created by the city’s best woodblock printing artists, was unveiled. You may also get a chance to try the woodblock printing free of charge.

The event has prepared 100 bookplates, 100 free ICH/handcraft experience tickets, 500 blessing (福) characters, and 100 couplets as gifts for visitors. Additionally, participants can collect stamps as a fun task to win prizes like limited-edition bookplates and calligraphy scrolls. Among these, the bookplate designed by artist Chen Wei and printed by master Huang Jiecheng is a unique heritage keepsake sponsored by the district’s culture, tourism, and sports authority. Only 500 copies are for the public annually. The 2025 Yi-Si Year of the Snake bookplate draws inspiration from ancient patterns. The coiled snake symbolizes good fortune and wealth and the bat represents longevity and prosperity.