On October 20th, the 30th Hakka Cultural Festival, themed “Connecting with Hakka Ancestral Land, Praying for Humanity’s Well-Being,” took place in Shibi Town, Ninhua County, Sanming City, Fujian Province. The event featured a variety of folk performances, showcasing the rich and distinctive Hakka cultural heritage that thrives in this ancestral region.
Attracting nearly 6,000 participants, including representatives from over 90 organizations worldwide, dignitaries, and local visitors, the festival served as a platform for celebrating Hakka friendships and discussing future developments for the ancestral land.
Prior to the start of the ceremony, the organizers unveiled the “Hakka Culture Branch of the Fujian-Taiwan Historical and Cultural Research Institute” and launched a 30-episode micro-documentary series titled “Ancestral Connections.” Additionally, an award ceremony celebrated contributions to the essay and short video contest “Hakka Voices Across the Globe: Strengthening Ties Between the Two Sides.”
The ceremonial rituals were conducted in a respectful manner, featuring flag-raising, floral offerings, incense offerings, and the reading of sacred texts, culminating in a vibrant display of music and dance as blessings were recited.
“The annual Hakka Cultural Festival provides an invaluable opportunity for face-to-face exchanges, enhancing the connections between people on both sides of the strait and promoting the shared responsibility of preserving Hakka culture,” stated Tang Fulon, chairperson of the Chinese Cross-Strait Hakka Cultural and Economic Exchange Association, representing the Taiwanese Hakka community.
The festival also received congratulatory messages from 29 associations, including the Hakka Association of Malaysia and the World Hakka Business Association, representing seven countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Highlighting its significance, Ninhua’s Shibi region is known as the ancestral home of Hakka people worldwide, with genealogies indicating that a significant majority of the 120 million Hakka descendants trace their roots back to this area. Over 216 major Hakka surnames originated from Shibi, contributing to a global Hakka community present in over 80 countries.
Since its inception in 1995, the festival has become a key event, drawing over 1.3 million individuals from around the world who come to Shibi to explore their roots and engage in cultural tourism. In 2011, the “Shibi Hakka Ancestor Worship Customs” was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.
