Huguo Temple

Temple fairs at the Huguo Temple were held on the 7th and 8th of every month. It was famous for the stalls selling jade articles, which were often visited by high-ranking figures, as aristocrats and high officials used to have the hobby of collecting bizarre jade articles and other jewelries. Fan stalls were also popular. The goods ranged from the cheap palm fans and feather fans, to the expensive folding fans and round fans, which were not only engraved with flowers, but also mounted with gems.

 Longfu Temple

Temple fair at Longfu Temple

The Longfu Temple, built during the reign of Emperor Jingtai of the Ming Dynasty in 1452, had the largest pair of temple gates in Beijing. The temple was composed of five courtyards, each with a large central hall connected by long galleries.

Visitors to the temple fairs included both city folk and peasants from the outlying regions. Customers could buy a variety of locally made products such as "Gold Elephant Zhang's" double-edged combs, "Iron Knife Liu's" fruit knives, and "Sanheju" wigs, as well as second-hand clothes, jewelry and cloth, bamboo and wicker products, flowers, birds, fish, and insects. There were also stalls selling all kinds of traditional Beijing snacks.

 The origin of temple fairs

When referring to the temple fair, a product of ancient China, people naturally connect it with "temple." Just as its name implies, the temple fair, which originated alongside the development of Buddhist and Taoist activities, is a kind of mass gathering that integrates religious worship, entertainment, and commerce.

In the Chinese Word-Ocean Dictionary published by Shanghai Dictionary Publication in 1980, temple fair is defined as: "a form of fair in China that has been existing since the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is usually held on the holidays of temples, taking place either in the temple or on nearby streets."

The temple fair is a traditional festival celebration in China. During the Spring Festival, it is one of the most important activities, and a traditional cultural event that features all kinds of Chinese folk art. Most temple fairs feature dragon and lion dances, waist drum dances, lotus blossom fairy dances, and ground and clam dances as well as other folk performances; some even stage traditional wedding ceremonies. In rural areas, the temple fair is an excellent opportunity to capture some color in the otherwise fairly drab countryside.

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