Pingtan Island is home to kind, guileless and diligent inhabitants. Since ancient times, folk customs in Pingtan are of distinctive insular features. Specifically, folk cultures like diet, marriage, birth and upbringing, festivities, socializing, and beliefs have much in common with Han Chinese elsewhere while the locals keep their own uniqueness. Meanwhile, there are slight differences of customs throughout the island, some even varying from islet to islet and from village to village. As an old Chinese saying goes, “Customs differ even in a quite short distance.”

Aojiu Festival

Aojiu Day, the 29^th day of the first lunar month, is a unique festival featuring the ancient Minyue culture in Pingtan. On this day, every family makes Xianshi Dumplings or Shaomai (or shumai)-shaped rice dumplings. Three days later, local islanders again celebrate the Spring Dragon Festival (also called “Ao Jiu Zai”) by making “Aojiu Ball” or cooking “Aojiu Porridge”. It is only after the two Aojiu festivals that marks the end of the month-long celebration of the Spring Festival season.