Women wearing traditional Chinese costumes participate in ancient customs of spring outing and drifting cups at Jiuxi, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on April 17, 2018. [Photo/IC]

The calligrapher Wang Xizhi from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 317 - 420) wrote in his Lanting Xu (Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion) about how literary men took a bath and composed poetry while drinking from cups left adrift and bobbing along the winding river.

In the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 907), it is said the emperor would treat his followers beside the river, along with ordinary people enjoying drinks and sightseeing. People in the Chang'an area would also watch cricket-fighting.

After the Ming and Qing dynasties (AD 1368 - 1911), the ritual activities were gradually omitted, and the festival developed into a spring outing featuring lively activities like drifting cups, drifting eggs, drifting dates, stone throwing, wearing willow-wreaths, hiking and eating glutinous rice and listening to choir music.

As Shangsi Festival happens so close to Qingming Festival, many young people today only know about the latter.

Singing and dancing performances are staged to celebrate Double Third Festival in Nanning city, Guangxi Zhang autonomous region, on March 30, 2017. [Photo/IC]

Customs of the festival

It's a traditional Han festival, as well as an occasion for many of the minority nationalities in China. People once held celebrations across the country.

During the festival, Han people would go for outings, enjoy flowers in the fields and dates with their lovers. It is also a day used for cleansing rituals to prevent disease and getting rid of bad luck.

To the Zhuang ethnic group in Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, March 3 is a festival for young people to sing songs and find their true love. Since 1983, singing festivals have been held annually on this day throughout Guangxi.

There is a folk tale about singing traditions in ancient China, where a renowned singer's daughter chose her husband by holding a singing competition and found her true love. Since then, hunting for lovers by singing has become a tradition.

Bamboo dancing is another essential activity for the Zhuang people on March 3 on the lunar calendar. Teenagers and adults dress in festive costumes while beating drums and expressing their admiration for each other.

In the southern Chinese island province of Hainan, the Li and Miao people celebrate the special day as the "Festival of Love", along with it being a day for remembering ancestors.

The She, Dong, Yao and Tujia ethnic groups also have a tradition of celebrating on the third day of the third lunar month.