吴承韬

Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Festival， a folk activity held in Xiaolan Town， enjoys great popularity at home and abroad， which is also one of the national intangible cultural heritage. The duration of the meeting varies from several days to more than ten days. The activities mainly include chrysanthemum appreciation， competition， chanting， painting and so on.

The history of this festival dates back to the Song Dynasty. In an attempt to escape disasters， some victims settled down in Xiaolan Town when chrysanthemums were blossoming in the late autumn. Feeling grateful that chrysanthemums led them to this blessed land， they transplanted wild chrysanthemums into the garden and devoted love and care to planting chrysanthemums from generation to generation， which turned to be todays Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Festival. Nowadays， Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Festival takes advantage of the chrysanthemums， constituting a distinctive and comprehensive folk tradition.

Last year， so fortunate was I that I paid a visit to the Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Festival. With the theme of “Striving for the hundred?year road and embarking on the new journey”， the grand banquet embodied the glorious course of the Communist Party of China from its birth to rapid growth. Brimming with extreme joy， I was intoxicated（陶醉的） by the waves of flowers. It stimulated the precious memory in my mind， and I hope this campaign will lead to magnificent tomorrow.

Profound cultural connotation and high historical value included， Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Festival is the most concentrated embodiment of Chinese chrysanthemum culture. Meanwhile， it plays an essential role in inheriting chrysanthemum culture， improving peoples cultural literacy and creating a harmonious society. In spite of the hardships involving the loss of well?known chrysanthemum species and the fewer inheritors of the unique skills of chrysanthemum art， I am strongly convinced that it is with our joint efforts that Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Festival will be maintained and expanded perpetually.