"On March 28, we go to Hongshan to worship Bodhisattva. With more money in our pocket, we eat sugarcanes. With less money in hand, we eat fried dough twists." This ballad, prevalent in Wuhan from 50 years ago, depicts one scene of the life in the Wuchang during the Sugarcane Festival.

Sugarcane festival, a folk custom of Wuchang

On the festival, Hongshan was teeming with sugarcane vendors who had increased their price of sugarcane. People who had little money could not afford sugarcanes and had to buy fried dough twists. Craftsmen in all trades suspend their businesses and religious ceremonies are held in most temples. Baotong Temple on Hongshan Mountain is visited by a continuous flow of pilgrims who ring bells, beat drums and knock chimes from morning to night amid the lingering sounds of wooden knockers and chants. In the smoke-filled temple, devout men and women kneel before the statue of god and piously kowtow, praying for blessings for their family and themselves. In the end, they draw lots and ask monks to interpret them. They also ask them to foretell their luck in wealth, career, marriage and the fate of their offspring.

Sugarcane

Why was the sugarcane festival prevalent in Wuchang only? The legend says that in late Yuan Dynasy, Xu Shouhui, a farmer, staged an uprising. He made Qishui the capital and proclaimed himself emperor. He sent Zou Pusheng to take Wuchang in his strategy. The inhabitants promising to aid in the attack used sugarcanes as a secret signal. When the troops entered Wuchang town, they did not damage homes with sugarcanes outside the doors. Since this time, there has been a saying in Wuchang that eating sugarcanes on this day will help one escape disasters. According to the elderly, it also clears away fire and improves eyesight.