This is Hainan

Dancers from Hainan perform distinctive local dance at the 17th Mazu Cultural Tourism Festival, which was held in Macao on Oct 10. [Photo/hinews.cn]

The 17th Mazu Cultural Tourism Festival got underway in Macao Special Administrative Region on Oct 10, with 1,000 people, including representatives of Mazu temples, business people, and Mazu worshippers, gathering for the celebration.

Mazu, whose real name is believed to be Lin Mo (960-987), is a deified figure widely worshiped in the coastal areas of many parts of China. There are many stories about Mazu helping people during shipwrecks. Known as "the goddess of the sea," Mazu has over 100 million devotees across the world.  

Fu Caixiang, vice governor of Hainan, attended the opening ceremony and addressed the audience.

The Mazu culture and the Maritime Silk Road culture are the bridges and ties that link the descendants of the Yellow Emperor at home and abroad. I hope that Hainan and Macao will jointly promote the Mazu culture and make greater contributions to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, said Fu.

After the opening ceremony, Hainan's folk songs and dances were performed, offering attendees a chance to learn more about the island province. To better display its achievements in its construction of a pilot free trade zone (port), Hainan hosted a special "Hainan Night" at the cultural tourism festival on the evening of Oct 9.