The 2014 Taibo Temple Fair [Photo from wuxinews.com.cn]

The 2014 Taibo Temple Fair?[Photo from wuxinews.com.cn]

The 2014 Taibo Temple Fair [Photo from wuxinews.com.cn]

Every January 9 of the Chinese lunar calender, hundreds of thousands of Wuxi residents will go to the local Taibo Temple in Mei town to worship their ancestors and take part in some activities. The temple fair is one of the most influential events in?the city?and even in Jiangsu province.

Taibo Temple is located near the entrance of the ancient town. It is now the largest and best-preserved architectural complex of the Ming and Qing dynasties in Wuxi.

More than 3,200 years ago, Taibo, the first son of King Tai of the Zhou Dynasty, brought the culture of the central plains here along with its etiquette and agriculture, which served as the origin of Wu Culture. Confucius said that Taibo represented the highest ethics (zhi de). So Meili town is also called "De Town".

In July 2007, the Taibo Temple Fair was approved to be included in the first batch of Wuxi Intangible Cultural Heritages. It was listed as a Jiangsu Intangible Cultural Heritage in July 2009 and made the fourth batch of National Intangible Heritages in December 2014.

Time: January 9 of the lunar calendar

Address: Taibo Temple, Wuxi New District