The statue of Mazu, a goddess of the sea in Chinese culture, at the Tianfei Temple in Liuhe Ancient Town, Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu province [Photo/WeChat account: taicangdaily]

A cross-Straits Mazu culture festival was held on Oct 17 at Tianfei Temple in Liuhe Ancient Town, Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu province, to strengthen cross-Straits ties and communication.

Mazu, a goddess of the sea in traditional Chinese culture, is worshipped throughout China's coastal regions and overseas Chinese communities, and is especially popular in Taiwan. The Mazu culture is, therefore, regarded as a bridge to connect people across the Straits, as well as Chinese people both at home and abroad.

The Tianfei Temple in Liuhe was officially authorized by the Suzhou municipal government at the festival as the city's base for exchanges with Taiwan.

As one of the four Mazu temples on the Chinese mainland, it has been organizing cross-Straits Mazu cultural activities for eight consecutive years, playing a leading role in the city's efforts to spread Mazu culture and boost cross-Straits ties.

The festival also witnessed several activities for promoting traditional Chinese virtues of benevolence and filial piety, such as donations to poor families and awards for families that show most filial piety to parents.

These activities were in celebration of the Double Ninth Festival, a traditional Chinese festival for showing respect to elders, which also fell on that day.

It is believed that the ideas of filial piety and respecting the elderly are in line with the pursuit of virtue, benevolence and love in the Mazu culture.

The Tianfei Temple in Liuhe is officially authorized by the Suzhou municipal government at the festival as the city's base for exchanges with Taiwan. [Photo/Taicang Taoism Association]

Traditional cultural performances are staged along the street in Taicang at the festival. [Photo/Taicang Taoism Association]