The Lychee Wan Stream -Wen Tower which has been closed for over half a century, will reopen on April 5, 2011, when the residents will engage in many fantastic activities carried out in 'the folk culture festival of Lychee Wan Stream', including walking around the tower, Wen Tower.
According to traditional culture, persons who walk around the Wen Tower and pray for a blessing gift must go through three procedures. That is, they need to make wishes, praying for blessing gift and walking around the tower. On the day of the festival, the residents should first write their wishes, then receive the blessing gift, and finally complete the ritual by walking around the Wen Tower three times.
The blessing gift includes the green onion, celery, Zongzi (a traditional Chinese rice dumpling), steamed buns, pens and other items. The green onion symbolizes intelligence, celery stands for industry, Zongzi and the steamed buns means admission, while pens are encouragement for the children to study hard. Some experts point out that the residents should head clockwise when walking around the tower. By then, residents who join the travel agency will receive the blessing gifts for free while those who go to the Wen Tower on their own only need to buy the blessing bars to receive the blessing gifts. The visitors only need to bring their best wishes rather than the joss sticks, candles and other offerings.
(Translated by Guangzhou Association of Foreign Affairs Translators)
