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.”

Religious Sedan Chair Parade

The parade is a distinctive religious custom taking place during the Spring Lantern Festival in Pingtan. The sedan chair carriers move in unison in traditional red festive outfits and blue headbands. As many as 17 sedan chairs “vies” with each other on streets, which implies fending off misfortunes and bringing favorable weather in the new year.