(WorldFrontNews Editorial):- Hebi, Henan Apr 29, 2026 (Issuewire.com) – By Qi Chenjiong
As the 2026 May Day holiday draws near, Liyang Ancient City Cultural Tourism Zone in Xun County, Hebi City, Henan Province has launched its signature themed campaign Explore Liyang: Earn Ancient Banknotes for Fun. Drawing on the city’s millennium-long history and rich folk customs, the scenic area has rolled out over ten types of themed performances, with more than 100 wonderful shows running nonstop throughout the holiday. The carefully arranged events are designed to enhance the immersive and interactive experience for tourists, inviting travelers from across the country to wander the time-honored ancient town and embrace a unique May Day getaway.
Xun County Ancient City will present a rich array of cultural and artistic performances over the holiday season. Highlights include lion dances, ritual drum shows, Ancient Costume Dance Charm, Melodies of Liyang, Face-changing and Fire-spinning Stunts, the light and shadow show Millennium Lights & Shadows, and Themed Fantasy Parade will fully display the site’s profound cultural heritage and distinctive tourism appeal.
The Themed Fantasy Parade stands out as a major attraction. The procession features stilt walkers, professional dancers, and costumed performers. Marching along the old streets and alleys, the group will give scheduled performances at key locations, turning the ancient city into a vibrant open-air theater.
Recognized as China’s Hometown of Folk Culture and Art, Xun County is renowned for Xun County Shehuo–a nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage folk parade. Folk performances such as lion dances, ritual drum shows, and stilt parades not only preserve the essence of traditional culture, but also convey festive blessings to visiting tourists.
As a nationally designated historical and cultural city, Xun County hosts a section of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Grand Canal, along with well-preserved nationally protected relics such as the Ming Dynasty ancient city wall, Wenzhi Pavilion, and Bixia Palace.
After nightfall, the glasses-free 3D light-and-shadow show Millennium Lights & Shadows takes center stage at the West City Tower of Xun County Ancient City. The spectacular production vividly showcases Xun County’s intangible cultural heritage and historic landmarks, while seamlessly integrating modern trendy elements, including pickleball, showcasing the city’s vibrant blend of culture and tourism.
Beyond diverse stage performances, the ancient city unveils its new immersive ancient banknote interactive experience this May Day. A variety of traditional folk games are available across the scenic area, including ring-toss-style pitch-pot games, finger-guessing games, strategic bead games, and rooster competitions. Winners of these activities will receive exclusive ancient city banknotes. Additionally, costumed performers will randomly distribute banknotes to visitors along the parade route. Tourists can redeem the banknotes for cultural and creative souvenirs, experience intangible cultural heritage handicraft workshops, or use them for consumption discounts at local shops, greatly enhancing both enjoyment and value for money.
For visitors seeking in-depth experiences, exclusive themed challenges are set at core attractions such as Guandi Temple, Hereditary Hanlin Mansion, and the Ancient County Yamen(historic government office), with themed sessions including Heroes of Sword and Horse, Elegant Melodies of the Hanlin Mansion, and Petal Quest at the Ancient County Yamen. Tourists who complete tasks can collect ancient banknotes by presenting their admission tickets and travel photos. Extra banknotes are also offered to visitors who purchase combined attraction tickets or share their tour moments on social media platforms, encouraging deeper exploration of the city’s rich cultural heritage.
This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.
