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| The picture shows a mother and her son going spring outing during the Qingming festival in Shandong province. The two main activities over the festival include tomb sweeping and going on a spring outing. (PHOTO: XINHUA) |
On May 20, 2006, the Qingming Festival was approved by the State Council of China to be included in the first batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The Qingming Festival has its origins in early human ancestral beliefs and spring rituals, and it has been a tradition of the Chinese people since ancient times to sweep tombs and pay their respects to ancestors, which not only helps to promote filial piety and family affection and recall common family memories, but also promotes the cohesion and identity of family members and the nation. Qingming Festival integrates natural festivals and humanistic customs, which fully reflects the Chinese ancestors' pursuit of the harmonious unity of "heaven, earth and human" and the idea of following the laws of nature.