Villagers carry the statue of Yang Jiong to patrol various villages in the area. [Photo/qz123.com]

"Yang Jiong Patrolling" is one of the few sacrificial rituals performed for a city god in Zhejiang and China as a whole.

The cultural heritage item is an important folk customs in Qujiang district, Quzhou.

Yang Jiong, an academic of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), assumed the post of ancient Quzhou's county leader. Legend has it that Quzhou suffered from a serious drought when Yang Jiong ruled the county, leading him to jump into a deep Yingchuan pool to pray for rain. His efforts paid off and his people were ultimately saved.

To commemorate Yang Jiong, local residents established a temple in his honor beside the Yingchuan pool. On the anniversary of Yang's death – the first day of the sixth lunar month, locals would carry Yang's statue to patrol the local area.

Residents of local villages would prepare sacrificial offerings to welcome the patrol team at the entrance to their villages.

As early as 2007, "Yang Jiong Patrolling" was included as a Zhejiang provincial intangible cultural heritage. In order to successfully become a national heritage, Qujiang district has been preparing for two years.

In 2019, Qujiang district applied for national intangible cultural heritage status for the local sacrificial custom.

A dazzling array of characteristic performances is staged during the sacrificial activity to entertain participants. [Photo/qz123.com]