Rashtriya Newsflash

The millennium-old city of Zhaoge welcomed Spring Festival with grandeur. On the evening of February 8, Zhaoge Old Street in Qi County, Central China’s Henan Province, blazed with lights and teemed with visitors. Amid thundering drums and leaping lion dances, the nearly month-long “Encounter Qi, Dreamy Zhaoge” Spring Festival Fair officially opened, inviting residents and tourists alike to embark on a 3,000-year cultural journey.

Zhaoge, located in present-day Qi County, served as the capital for the last four kings of the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE) and later as the capital of the Wei State during the Western Zhou period. Today, it stands among Henan Province’s first designated historical and cultural cities and is revered as the cradle of Chinese surname culture.

Rooted in this rich Shang Dynasty heritage, the event seamlessly blends nighttime touring, performances, shopping, and immersive experiences. At the opening ceremony, Chinese singer-songwriter Dai Yutong —who boasts 30 million followers across social platforms — delivered a captivating performance. A spectacular building projection light show unfolded like scrolls, tracing Qi County’s evolution: from ancient Shang capital to the refined elegance of the Wei State, from the origins of Chinese surnames to the birthplace of classic idioms, and from the wisdom of Yunmeng Mountain to the scenic beauty of the Qi River.

The highlight came with “Zhaoge: The Enchanted Dance of the Fengshen”, a processional immersive performance staged against the backdrop of Zhaoge’s storied past. The production recreates the historical moment 3,000 years ago when King Zhou of Shang pacified the Dongyi tribes and unified the Central Plains.

Scattered throughout the street, pop-up performances and NPC character parades animate the ancient thoroughfare, while specialty markets and local delicacies tempt the senses. Visitors can admire murals depicting characters from Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi), decode decorative lanterns featuring Shang Dynasty idioms, and purchase Fengshen-themed cultural creative products — all offering a tangible connection to this legendary heritage.

Investiture of the Gods, commonly known as “Fengshen” in Chinese, is a 16th-century fantasy novel that blends history and mythology to depict a cosmic war between gods and mortals during the fall of the Shang Dynasty. The story features a vast pantheon of deities, magical battles, and moral struggles between good and evil, intertwining elements of Chinese mythology, folk religion, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. It remains a cornerstone of Chinese popular culture.

The county’s connection to the novel has earned it the official title of “Hometown of Fengshen Culture” in Henan Province.

Zhaoge Old Street ranks among Henan’s first designated historical and cultural blocks. It is also recognized as a leisure tourism district and a nighttime cultural tourism consumption cluster. Situated at the heart of the ancient city, the street emphasizes historical and cultural industries, integrating traditional heritage into modern tourism scenes. Today, it has become a premier nighttime destination for both locals and visitors.

“Celebrate Spring Festival in Qi County, Ring in the New Year in Zhaoge.” The “Encounter Qi, Dreamy Zhaoge” Spring Festival Fair will run through March 4. The entire street transforms into an immersive theater where every step reveals a new scene, ancient and modern intertwine, and the festive atmosphere grows ever stronger. More and more residents and tourists are strolling through this illuminated historic street, savoring the savoring the vibrant street life and local atmosphere, and embarking on a time-traveling cultural journey this Spring Festival.

(Qi Chenjiong)

Media Contact
Company Name: Qixian County
Contact Person: Stephen Ma
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City: Hebi
Country: China
Website: https://www.qxzf.gov.cn/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/jgjj/gzbm/art/2022/art_7e82d4d0c72e413cb83da10a7830d4b5.html