Festival of Discharging Water at Dujiang Weirs

　　 The Dujiang Weirs, granted "World Cultural Heritage" status by UNESCO, are located in the middle and upper reaches of the Minjiang River, a branch of the Yangtze River, 57 km away from Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan province.

　　Each year, on the day of Qingming, about two weeks after the Vernal Equinox (which usually falls on April 4th to 6th of the Gregorian calendar), a grand ceremonial ritual of Discharging Water is held. In later years, to commemorate Li Bing, the Festival of Discharging Water was held yearly on the day of Qingming, with various sacrifices, prayers for good weather, a bumper harvest year, and blessings for both men and animals. The most important ritual is the water-discharging event at the "water-dividing mouth."