Fireworks in Zigui

The fireworks lit up the night sky of Hometown of Qu Yuan Tourist Area at Zigui county of Yichang city. Qu was believed to be born on the seventh day of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which fell on January 28 this year. Local people set off fireworks to celebrate his 2,363rd birth anniversary and spread the Year of Rabbit blessings.

Qu (c. 340 BC - 278 BC), one of the greatest patriotic poets and politicians in ancient China, was born in Lepingli in what is now Zigui County. As a politician, he rose to become Prime Minister of the State of Chu, but was dismissed for calumny. In 278 BC, when Qin captured the capital of Chu, he drowned himself in Miluo River. Qu wrote the famous poems "Li Sao" (Tales of Woe), "Tian Wen" (Heavenly Questions), "Jiu Zhang" (Nine Pieces) and "Jiu Ge" (Nine Tunes), and was named a “World Cultural Celebrity” by UNESCO in 1953.

Video by: Liao Quan