[Photo by Xu Weigeng]

It is a Chinese tradition to hang and watch lanterns on Lantern Festival. In the small seaside town, Dongshi, Jinjiang, this tradition has gained new meanings, witnessing the customary, genetic and cultural bonds across the Taiwan Straits.

It is voluntarily organized by people in Taiwan and Jinjiang, based at Sangong Palace, "the palace of three sages" (also called Jiaying Temple). Activities are held in Dongshi Town, Dongshi Township, Budai Town and Taiwan. Those who migrated to Taiwan would send their family members to Jinjiang to pay respect to the three sages on the 13th day of lunar January. This person would bring some lanterns from Taiwan and take some back, the numbers of which respectively represents the number of men entering adulthood that year in their community in Taiwan and Jinjiang.

?? [Photo by Xu Weigeng]