As mulberry trees sprout fresh buds in the spring rain, a centuries-old celebration is breathing new life into the waterways of eastern China. The 28th Xinshi Silkworm Flower Festival, also known as "Ga Canhua," a millennia-old tradition honoring silkworm deities, opened on April 4 in Xinshi Ancient Town in Deqing County, Zhejiang Province. Running through the Qingming holiday weekend, this year's event reimagines the region's silk heritage through immersive performances, contemporary rituals and vibrant cultural fusion.

Rooted in the sericulture traditions of the Hangzhou-Jiaxing-Huzhou region, the festival dates back over a thousand years. Historical records from the Song Dynasty describe the town as "the Land of Silk," while local legend traces the festival's origins to the Spring and Autumn Period. It is said that the beautiful Xi Shi, traveling with statesman Fan Li, distributed silk flowers to local mulberry pickers to bless the harvest.

After a 63-year hiatus, the tradition was revived in 1999 and designated as Zhejiang provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007. Today, it stands as a powerful symbol of cultural identity, where locals believe treading Xinshi soil during the festival brings "fortune and blessings home."

This year's opening broke from convention with an immersive theatrical experience at Xiantan Primary School. Two characters portraying "youth returning to the countryside" guided audiences through the town's evolution through poetry, Yue Opera and dance. The highlight came as the silkworm flower maidens – young women selected as living embodiments of the silkworm spirit – made their grand entrance in the Hundred Flowers Contest, followed by a spectacular palanquin procession.

Water became the stage for the revival of ancient rites. The town's southern waterways witnessed the revival of the "waterborne flower scattering" ceremony, with silk blossoms drifting downstream, carrying prayers for prosperous harvests. Meanwhile, modern venues like the Canal Xintiandi observation deck hosted blessing ceremonies for the first time, extending the traditional "Ga Canhua" – the custom of pressing through crowds for good fortune – from narrow alleys into contemporary cultural spaces.

The festival's modern pulse was especially evident at the Canal Xintiandi marketplace, where 60 stalls showcase intangible heritage crafts and cultural creative products. A floating stage featured breathtaking high-pole acrobatics over the water, an immersive theater piece titled "Old Friends Under the Mulberry Tree," and "village karaoke" performances by the silkworm flower maidens themselves.

Youth culture took center stage through the "fortune makeup" experience, offering visitors traditional "pearl feather crowns" and hanfu costume rentals. Three daily mini-palanquin processions invited tourists to ride alongside costumed characters, with professional photographers capturing the moments for social sharing. In a contemporary twist on a communal gathering, the Blessings and Connections matchmaking event offered young singles the chance to find romance amid the celebrations of ancient rituals.

From the revival of ancient water rituals to trending costume experiences, the 28th Silkworm Flower Festival shows how intangible heritage can remain relevant without losing its soul. As overseas Chinese return specifically to hear the jingling of the bells on the palanquin of the silkworm goddess, the festival serves as both a living relic of agricultural civilization and a dynamic platform for cultural innovation.

With silkworms and mulberry trees still shaping the landscape, Xinshi continues to weave threads of history into the tapestry of today. As a local saying goes: "Step on Xinshi ground, bring home treasure profound." This Qingming Festival, the ancient town continues to invite the world to "Ga Canhua" – press through the crowds, gather the blessings and witness how tradition, like silk itself, only grows stronger with time.