On March 25, the Information Office of the Shaanxi Provincial People’s Government held a press conference to announce the preparations for the 2025 Qingming Festival Ceremony to Honour Emperor Huangdi. Feng Haobin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Deputy Director of the Management Committee of the Huangdi Mausoleum Cultural Park, provided the details.
The ceremony, co-hosted by the Shaanxi Provincial People’s Government, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, and the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, will take place at 9:50 a.m. on April 4 at the Sacrificial Square on Qiaoshan Mountain in Huangling County, Shaanxi Province.
Emperor Huangdi, a key figure in ancient Chinese history, is honoured as the “Ancestor of Chinese Civilization.” The tradition of worshipping him dates back to the Han Dynasty and has continued through various dynasties. Today, the ceremony remains an important cultural event, promoting unity and national heritage.
This year’s ceremony will follow the theme “Forging a Strong Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation and Advancing on the Path of Chinese-Style Modernization.” It will include traditional rituals such as drumming, bell ringing, singing the Ode to Emperor Huangdi, presenting flower baskets, reading a sacrificial oration, bowing in tribute, music and dance performances, and tree planting. Over 350 representatives from across China and overseas Chinese communities will take part.
Feng noted that 2025 is the final year of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan and a key period for reform. Holding this event reflects both the preservation of tradition and its adaptation to modern times.
Additionally, the Regulations on the Protection of the Huangdi Mausoleum in Shaanxi Province will take effect on April 1, 2025. Measures will include public education, conservation efforts, legal enforcement, and cultural exchanges to ensure the mausoleum’s long-term protection and development.
