Twelve flower goddesses, dressed in hanfu, show up in the parade during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Jinan Huazhao Festival. [Photo/Jinan Times]

The 2024 Jinan Huazhao Festival kicked off along Daming Lake, the city's most iconic scenic area in Lixia district, on March 23, featuring various events such as a flower goddess parade, traditional Chinese performances, and a garden-themed market.

Twelve flower goddesses, dressed in hanfu (a traditional Chinese-style clothing), appeared in the parade during the opening ceremony, attracting many hanfu enthusiasts.

The Huazhao Festival, which has a history of over 2,000 years, is held in celebration of the flower goddess' birthday. According to ancient beliefs, the flower goddess controlled the reproduction of mankind, and it later became a custom to celebrate her birthday as a way to wish for prosperity.

During the opening ceremony, visitors were treated to a slew of traditional Chinese games like touhu, also known as pitch-pot, which requires players to throw arrows from a distance into a pot, and diverse markets showcasing handicrafts such as knot art, dough sculpting, paper-cutting, and Lu embroidery.

This year's festival will last until May 6, with the city's major parks and scenic areas, including the Qianfo Mountain Scenic Area, Jinan Zoo, Quancheng Park, and Jinan Botanical Garden, working together to organize over 20 activities. The activities will include mountain hiking, flower appreciation, bird studying, flower tie-dyeing, and tea tasting.

Visitors play pitch pot, a traditional Chinese game, at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Jinan Huazhao Festival. [Photo/Jinan Daily]

Diverse markets showcasing handicrafts like knot art, dough sculpting, paper-cutting, and Lu embroidery attract visitors at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Jinan Huazhao Festival. [Photo/Jinan Daily]