Participants in the 11th Zhoushan Huazhao Festival and the 2026 Chinese Flower Deity Competition pose for a group photo at Haizhou Tiandi scenic area in Zhoushan. [Photo provided by Haizhou Tiandi for Tide News]

The 11th Zhoushan Huazhao Festival and the 2026 Chinese Flower Deity Competition (Zhoushan division) opened at Haizhou Tiandi scenic area in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, on April 22, drawing nearly 10,000 visitors and turning a commercial complex into a showcase of traditional culture.

The event featured around 50 contestants dressed in hanfu (traditional Chinese attire), presenting performances inspired by flowers.

The competition combined visual presentation with talent and cultural interpretation, culminating in the selection of the city's "12 flower deities" and "12 junior flower deities". The top three winners will advance to the national finals.

Visitors also engaged in traditional games and crafts, including poetic challenges and hands-on activities such as pastry making, hairpin crafting, and incense pendant carving. Many participants took part in making sachets and painting fans, experiencing a slower pace and elements of classical aesthetics.

The event highlighted growing public interest in traditional culture and demonstrated how themed festivals can support both cultural promotion and commercial vitality in urban districts.