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Well, it certainly wasn't anything like a church fete!! The first difference was the scale model boat standing in front of the square of the temple fair, surrounded by the floating red balls I call 'jelly fish'. Red lanterns were strung up all around the square, lightly laced with soft white snow. Drummers and performers were finishing last minute rehearsals and stalls selling Chinese and Thai trinkets were filling up.
I investigated the Han costume stall, attracted by the handsome costume worn by the owner of the company, Zhang Xisong. He invited me to try on a lovely pink number, but as the day was quite cold and still snowing lightly, I decided I was too much of a coward to take off my warm down coat. Next time, I promised.
The square was beginning to be filled with people watching the skilled Diaboloplayers – keeping that wooden top spinning on long ropes is a skill I cannot see myself mastering! While I watched them, a loudspeaker called us to the stage area where the official opening of the Temple Fair was announced.
The stage was placed in front of the nearly completed Da Tang Xi Shi – a tall building in the traditional Tang style, with the iconic sweeping rooflines. The opening ceremony commenced with a number of performances, including some energetic drumming by girls who looked much too dainty to be beating the big drums with such vigor.
Other performers appeared on stage dressed in beautiful traditional costumes, although I felt very sorry for some of the girls who were dressed in clothes that would have been fine in summer but were no protection against the chilly day and lightly falling snow. They bravely continued their performance despite the cold.
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