A group of six expats take part in a visit to Taibo Temple, Feb 13. The group visited a fair being held at the temple on Feb 12 and 13. [Photo by Xiao Da/chinadaily.com.cn]

With all the noise, activities and crowds of people milling about, it is difficult to make out the attraction we are here to see. The rain is beating down hard, and large muddy pools of water are beginning to form on the ground.

I am at Taibo Temple in Wuxi Hi-tech District, a major tourist attraction in Jiangsu province, and have joined a group of foreign visitors on a two-day trip starting on Feb 12, attending the annual Taibo Temple Fair being held the following day.

The event is held on the ninth day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar, and this year a group of us have been lucky enough to be invited to take part in some of the exciting cultural activities associated with the event.

This is no ordinary fair –– the Taibo Temple Fair is held to honor Wu Taibo, founder of the State of Wu and has been listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

After a few minutes of taking in the new sights and sounds, the group is led on to a newly-erected stage. While it is not immediately clear what we are about to do, we are all just grateful to be out of the rain. Moments later, all becomes clear –– we are going to take part in some traditional Chinese games!