Hainan Island's Gongqi Festival: Piercing Rituals & Hidden Traditions

Have you ever imagined China could have such vibrant local customs, including openly practiced religious rituals, despite what you've heard from mainstream media? As a German visiting Hainan—China's southernmost province and island—I had the privilege of being invited by local villagers to celebrate together, and I discovered a hidden festival that locals celebrate even more enthusiastically than the Chinese New Year: the "Gongqi Festival."

Experiencing this for the first time was truly eye-opening. From jaw-dropping ancestral rituals, including shocking ceremonies like "穿杖" (body piercing rituals), to unbelievable folk performances and mouth-watering local delicacies, the festival atmosphere completely blew me away. It's incredible to witness such rich and unrestricted cultural traditions thriving openly in China, contrary to popular media portrayals.

Join me in this vlog to challenge your preconceptions and discover a side of China that few outsiders get to see! Others argue that this is actually the Junpo Festival, a similar event that differs primarily in who is celebrated and certain rituals practiced.