Lianhua Mountain is located in Zhangjiayuan Township (Zheyaogou Village) in Tongxin County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, in an arid mountainous area inhabited by the Han people. It is surrounded by mountains and hills. From a distance, it looks like a blooming lotus, standing tall and graceful, hence the name "Lotus Mountain". The top of Lianhua Mountain is 1,800 meters high. It faces Luoshan Mountain in the north and is surrounded by peaks in the south. It is steep and precipitous in the southeast, with a deep ditch on the east foot and a winding slope in the northwest. The Zheyaogou is separated by a ditch below the slope. The water club team is generally composed of more than 200 young and middle-aged men, wearing black Taoist uniforms and black yin-yang hats. The water club is arranged in two long columns. The one walking in front is holding a water diversion broadcast and a water diversion gong, followed by eight sedan chairs and two tiger head signs. Next is the majestic drum band, followed by 48 pairs of colorful flags painted with dragons and flying tigers, Lei Gong and Dian Mu and the Twelve Spiritual Officials, and behind is a black flag of the Big Dipper. After the flag-raising ceremony, the whole team of deacons came, like the imperial guards when the emperor left the palace. Finally, the water donors carried buckets on their shoulders. The four characters "Chaoshan Gongshui" were written on the specially made red buckets, and they were covered with a red cloth one foot square. Then, a gong was played to urge the water. The basic procedures of the Qingmiao Water Festival are: fetching water, passing the customs, and offering water. To fetch water, the water association team came to the pre-selected wells or cellars, paid homage to the "Five Mountains", and then everyone chanted the "Ouzi" of fetching water: "From a distance, the fog is heavy on the Nanshan Mountain, and from a close distance, the spring water is clear. Each of us is pious and cultivates the springs, and carries the water to the famous mountains to offer to the gods." Then, the rain-praying words were recited: "It is said that the rain is the essence, coming from the middle. God has sent down the rain of peace, and the grains and seedlings are growing." After fetching water, they kept their eyes straight and did not talk to each other along the way. The incense was lingering, and the sheng and pipes were playing, and the Buddhist mantras "Namo Buddha, Amitabha" and "Namo Buddha, Amitayus" were sung. When the water association team is close to the top of the mountain, men, women, old and young kneeling in the middle of the road are waiting for the water offering team to come to them. They kneel down and recite the "Guansha Ouzi" written on the red cloth. After reciting the "Guansha Ouzi", they hang the three sedan chairs and their respective equipment over the heads of the people passing the gate, praying for the gods to bless them: good luck, happiness and longevity. After the customs are completed, it is time to offer water. With the background of burning incense and firing cannons, the water association team takes turns to offer water to the gods in various temples. When offering water, they sing in unison: "All disciples kneel at the gate of the Fan Temple, look up at the mist rising from the top of Jindai Mountain, and offer a cup of water to save all living beings, and pray that the gods will respond to the harvest of grains." After scooping the water in the bucket into a dish and offering it to the gods, all pilgrims kowtow to the gods, and then pour the remaining water in the bucket into the courtyard in front of the temple. At this time, pilgrims from all directions rushed forward to receive the offering water to rinse their mouths and wash their hands. It is said that it can not only eliminate disasters and prolong life, but also get sweet rain first. The main activity of the Qingmiao Water Fair is to pray for rain and blessings, which is full of Taoist, Buddhist and Confucian colors. In recent years, the water fair has become an organized traditional folk activity that integrates praying for rain and blessings, pilgrimages, commodity trading, entertainment and leisure. Most of the people who participate in the temple fair are from all walks of life, mainly local people. They go to the temple fair to burn incense and worship the gods, expressing their good wishes for blessings, disaster prevention, peace and good fortune. In November 2014, the "Tongxin Lianhua Mountain Qingmiao Water Fair" was approved by the State Council to be included in the fourth batch of national intangible cultural heritage representative projects. (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.) (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.)