Red Dowry, Tangerine Charm: Huangyan’s May Day Spectacle

Huangyan’s "Ten Miles of Red Dowry, A City Fragrant with Tangerines" Festival (May 1–5) celebrates heritage with dazzling spectacles. The May 1 opening ceremony (19:18 at Yongning Park) features a 1,000-drone light show illustrating landmarks like Wudong Bridge and Fanhuang Bamboo Carving. The ceremony also includes lion dances, Southern Tai Chi, and traditional wedding reenactments.

Daily from 10:00–20:00, step into the Song Dynasty along Yongning River’s Wudong Bridge area. Artisans demonstrate Shabu Celadon pottery and Fanhuang Bamboo Carving amid Daoqing folk performances and storytelling. Savor local treats like brown sugar candies and Shabu dried tofu at riverside markets, or join the Long Table Banquet (May 1–3, 18:00) for Taizhou’s iconic Shipingtong, a kind of rice flour wrap stuffed with various ingredients paired with tangerine drinks.

On May 1 afternoon, Xingfu Island hosts a Song-style group wedding: eight couples in phoenix crowns revive ancient rituals. Evenings bring traditional opera along Guanhe Water Street, while the May 4 Lantern Riddle Festival (Old Water Plant Cultural Park) challenges guests with 1,000 puzzles for prizes.

From millennial crafts to citrus-scented vistas, Huangyan’s festival blends culture, history, and flavor into an unforgettable journey.