On Apr. 11th, descendants of the Yan and Yellow Emperors, including those from Hongkong and Taiwan, all got together in Yuan’an to worship China’s cultural ancestor---Leizu.

　　With solemn gun salute, the worshiping team, sericulturists in silk garment and white kerchief, offered incense to Leizu and prayed for good harvest. Hundreds of women performed Ode to Leizu, expressing their respect to the cultural ancestor with simple but elegant song and dance. Fireworks flashed above the square with waves of cheers.

　　The Leizu Culture Festival was hosted by Association for Yan Huang Culture of China, Provincial Department of Culture and Yichang Municipal Government. Yuan’an was inaugurated as “Leizu Culture Shrine” by Association for Yan Huang Culture of China that day.

　　According to Shih Chi, Leizu was the primary consort of the Yellow Emperor and was called as “cultural ancestress” for discovering sericulture, inventing the loom, and bringing silk weaving into wider practice. Leizu’s birthday was thought to be on the 15th day of the 3rd lunar month. Every year people who live miles around Yuan’an get together in Leizu town for fair on that day, which has lasted for 1400 years.

　　In Yuan’an, people’s “Leizu belief” was included in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage; “Leizu culture” won Hubei Province “One County One Brand” Best Brand Award; grand musical art film Sericulturist Leizu was awarded for excellence in China Television Golden Eagle Awards.

　　Yuan’an has held 32 Leizu fairs since 1984, which was renamed as Leizu Culture Festival Yuan’an has invested near 200 million yuan to build Leizu Culture Park and Leizu Culture Museum for people’s worship and sightseeing activities. (Reporters: Tang Yigui, Wu Qinhu, correspondent: Li Shaojun)