Zhongshan’s Xiaolan Town, known as the ‘Chrysanthemum City’, hosts the Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Fair, which has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. The fair is held annually, with a medium-scale event every 10 years and a large-scale event every 60 years. The chrysanthemum culture is deeply rooted in Xiaolan’s history, with records dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty. Initially, there were organizations such as ‘Chrysanthemum Trials’ and ‘Chrysanthemum Societies’, which later evolved into the decadent ‘Yellow Flower Fair’.
In the 19th year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty, ten chrysanthemum societies united to hold a grand chrysanthemum event, agreeing to hold a large event every 60 years, starting from the year their ancestors settled in Xiaolan. Historically, during the blooming of chrysanthemums, various families would gather to compare their chrysanthemum arrangements in ‘Chrysanthemum Trials’, which later developed into the Chrysanthemum Fair. The fair lasts from a few days to over ten days, with activities including chrysanthemum appreciation, contests, poetry recitation, painting, tasting, water parades, and chrysanthemum operas, all of which are still preserved today. Therefore, during the annual Chrysanthemum Fair, a large number of tourists come to admire the chrysanthemums and enjoy chrysanthemum banquets. The fair is open from November 29th to December 18th.Preferential policies include: Children under 12 years old (inclusive) enter for free when accompanied by a ticket-holding guardian.
Elderly over 70 years old (inclusive) enter for free.
Active military personnel with valid (original) documents enter for free.
People with disabilities with valid documents, in accordance with the ‘Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities’, enter for free.
