Cangzhou Yanshan Qiantong Temple

Qiantong Temple is located in Qiantong Town, Yanshan County, southeast of Cangzhou City, 25 kilometers north of Yanshan County. There are Dongdu Hall, Taishan Hall and Friendship Hall, which record the successful eastward crossing of the alchemist Xu Fuyong led by the alchemist of the Qin Dynasty, and the successful eastward crossing of the craftsmen and the influence on the Japanese archipelago. Qiantong Town was called "Rao'an Township" during the Shang, Zhou and Warring States periods, which means "the land is abundant and surrounded by people". In "Historical Records of Zhao Shijia", it is mentioned that in the sixth year of Qin Shihuang (241 BC), "Zhao general Pang attacked Qi and took Rao'an", which refers to this place. In the Qin Dynasty, this place was called "Thousand Children City". "The first emperor sent Xu Fu to send thousands of boys and girls into the sea to seek Penglai, and set this city to live in, hence the name." In the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty (202 BC), the county was called here. "Qiantong County". In the second year of Xiping in the Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 517), Cangzhou was established here. Qiantong Town has been governed by the state and county for 841 years in history. Because in 209 BC, Xu Fu was ordered by Qin Shihuang to lead thousands of boys, girls and craftsmen to set sail from here to seek the elixir of life and travel across the world. The successful eastward crossing of the sea and the immigrant living in Japan created a precedent for friendly exchanges between China and Japan, and became the first hometown of overseas Chinese in Chinese history. In the folk, there is the "Qiantong Xinzi Festival" that originated from the Han Dynasty, that is, a grand sacrificial event is held on the day of Xufu Qiantong's departure to the sea on March 28 of the lunar calendar. During the festival, various folk performances are held, especially the selection of boys and girls with strong body and beautiful eyes, dressed in ancient costumes, tied to a miniature stage supported by a 15- or 6-meter-high pole, and climbed high and looked into the distance to show Miss and call Dongdu's relatives. "Thousand Children's Letters Festival" is called by experts and scholars as the "living fossil" of friendly exchanges between China and Japan. Since 1993, on March 28 of the lunar calendar, Yanshan County has held the "Qiantong Cultural Festival" in Qiantong Town, once every five years.