The photo shows the world's largest dinner party, which was held to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Yayang Town of Taishun County in Wenzhou,east China's Zhejiang Province on February 28th. [Photo: Xinhuanet]
More than 50,000 people dined together to celebrate the annual Lantern Festival in Yayang Town of Taishun County in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province on February 28th.
According to the Times News, it took a whole year to prepare the large banquet and more than 1,000 local villagers served as temporary chefs and waiters for the event, which used a total of 5,000 tables.
Ji Xiaobin, the chief organizer, said the turnout exceeded their expectations - they had only planned to use 2,500 tables. It's estimated that guests from the neighboring cities of Hangzhou, Shanghai and Wenzhou reached 6,000.
Taishun's "Hundred-Family Banquet" began in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and has over 1,000 years of history. Banquets have historically been known as a time to ask for blessings during the Lantern Festival.
Locals regard the event as a time for family reunions, and they discuss family affairs, ask for blessings from Gods and pray for long-term peace.
In 2007, the "Hundred-Family Banquet" was list as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The photo shows the world's largest dinner party, which was held to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Yayang Town of Taishun County in Wenzhou,east China's Zhejiang Province on February 28th. [Photo: Xinhuanet]