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Every year on the 19th day of the second lunar month, the 19th day of the sixth lunar month, and the 19th day of the ninth lunar month, it is a good day to attend the temple fair at Guanyin Temple in Dali. Among these, the 19th day of the second lunar month is Kwan Yin's birthday, so it is the largest gathering.
The following text and pictures are excerpts from a WeChat public account article by Wuwei Space:
Dali Guanyin Temple | Attending the Temple Fair, Experiencing a Different Market
Dali Guanyin Temple is known as the first temple of the Ancient Kingdom of Miaoxiang.
This year, March 28 is the 19th day of the second lunar month, which is the first temple fair of the year at Dali Guanyin Temple. Every year on the 19th day of the second lunar month, the 19th day of the sixth lunar month, and the 19th day of the ninth lunar month, it is a good day to attend the temple fair at Guanyin Temple.
Along the streets surrounding Guanyin Temple, from Ruifeng Garden all the way to the temple, you will find both sides of the street lined with stalls selling a dazzling array of goods. In front of Zhangjia Garden and the temple gate square, there are also densely packed stalls forming a market. There are stalls selling specialty snacks, local products, affordable clothing, daily necessities, and more.
I have been to the Guanyin Temple fair many times, so I have some experience. I prepare in advance by exchanging some small-denomination paper money at a nearby convenience store. When shopping at the market, if you want to buy items from some elderly local vendors, cash comes in handy. Along some main roads, there are also people begging for alms, and the small change you prepared can also be used.
Walking from the temple gate square toward the main hall, you will see that the square behind the temple gate is bustling with incense offerings! This year, some volunteers have been added to maintain order and guide pilgrims, which is truly heartwarming. The temple's cafeteria is also open to the public, with dedicated volunteers helping, making it orderly and clean.
In the courtyard of the main hall, there are staff helping with "writing memorials," information counters, traffic control, and even a place to exchange small change. Compared to previous years, these newly added volunteer services really solve many pain points for tourists!
To the south of the Guanyin Pavilion, there is an ancient Chinese fringetree that blooms brilliantly during the temple fair period. Walking under the fringetree, a light fragrance of its flowers wafts through the wind, and the whole journey feels relaxed and pleasant. I had never encountered this in my many previous visits to Guanyin Temple.
In many places such as the front and middle-back courtyards of Guanyin Temple, there are devout elderly people chanting and praying for blessings, praying for the safety and health of their families, and for peace and prosperity for the country. They spread kindness and touch every passing visitor.
In summary, this time at the Guanyin Temple fair, I noticed many differences from previous occasions. I saw volunteer services, orderly queues for incense, elderly people over eighty still helping others, and many people maintaining order throughout the market to avoid congestion. In the Year of the Dragon, attending the first temple fair at Dali Guanyin Temple was a different market experience, and I felt very good about this trip.
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