Yangwei village in the city of Putian hosts a colorful and joyous annual horse riding parade on the 26th day of first lunar month, which this year fell on Feb 22. The ride is a village tradition reflecting the hopes for peaceful, prosperous year with a bountiful harvest.

During the event youngsters, on horseback, ride through the village dressed as folklore figures. The procession can stretch up to a kilometer in length and this year 100 young boys and girls and 200 horses were involved in making the celebration a vibrant success.

Local youngsters on horseback pass an important building during their slow ride through the historic Fujian province village, one dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618- 907). [Photo by Zhang Guojun/Xinhua]

Mist surrounds the village on the day of the big event, which brings an air of spectacle and mystery to the proceedings. The village has a range of cultural relics such as ancestral halls, steles and memorial archway. Suitably, in 2003, the village was listed as a provincial historical site. [Photo by Zhang Guojun/Xinhua]