Zhaoqing, a famous Lingnan city with a long history, has rich and colorful folk customs. These customs and habits are not only the carrier of local cultural inheritance, but also integrated into the daily life of Zhaoqing people and become part of the city's unique charm.

Spring Festival Customs

The Spring Festival is the most solemn festival of the year in Zhaoqing, and it is also a season rich in folk customs. Spring cleaning, pasting Spring Festival couplets, lion dances, and setting off firecrackers are all traditional customs that carry Zhaoqing people’s best wishes for the New Year. On New Year's Eve, families reunite, sit around the table and enjoy a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner. After dinner, people stay up until early in the morning to pray for peace and success in the new year.

Marriage Customs

Zhaoqing’s weddings pay attention to many etiquette. The man comes to propose marriage, and with the consent of the woman's parents, he can choose an auspicious day to celebrate. When giving gifts, the man needs to bring gifts such as bride price, three animals, and fruits. On the wedding day, the groom must go to the bride's home to greet the bride in person. Before going out, the bride needs to step over the brazier, which means to ward off evil spirits.

Funeral Customs

Zhaoqing’s funeral customs also have a long history. After a person dies, relatives wear sackcloth and pay filial piety and keep vigil for three days. During this period, Taoist priests are invited to chant sutras to save the souls of the dead. During the burial, the bereaved family will carry the coffin and parade around the village, which means that the soul of the deceased has returned to his hometown.

Food Customs

Zhaoqing’s food culture is deeply influenced by the Lingnan region and is mainly light and delicious. Zhaoqing Steamed Rice Dumplings, Zhaoqing Rice Noodles, Duanyan Inkstone Cuttlefish Soup, etc. are all local specialties. The steamed rice dumplings are rich in fillings, and the glutinous rice is soft and sweet; the rice flour is smooth and refreshing, and paired with various toppings, it is endlessly memorable; the Duanyanyan cuttlefish soup is dark in color and the soup is rich and delicious.

Other customs

In addition to the above main customs, Zhaoqing also has many other unique customs. For example, people in Zhaoqing like to drink tea, and there is a saying that no feast is complete without tea. On every festive occasion, Zhaoqing people will dance the unicorn to pray for peace and good fortune. During the Dragon Boat Festival, Zhaoqing people will hold dragon boat races, which is a lively scene. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people in Zhaoqing will enjoy the moon and eat moon cakes to reunite with their families.

These customs and habits have become an important part of Zhaoqing culture. They not only reflect the local people's lifestyle and values, but also carry Zhaoqing's long historical and cultural heritage.