More than 10,000 people gathered in Meilin village in Nanjing county, Fujian province, on Thursday to celebrate the birth of Mazu, the sea goddess. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com]

More than 10,000 people gathered in Meilin village in Nanjing county, Fujian province, on Thursday to celebrate the birth of Mazu, the sea goddess.

Many overseas Chinese trace their roots to Meilin, said Wei Maoxiang of the village's Mazu council. People have moved to other countries to work for centuries.

"Their families set up the Tianhou Temple in the late Ming Dynasty to pray for health and safety. Gradually, Nanjing county, a world cultural heritage site, formed a unique tulou Mazu cultural festival," Wei added, referring to earthen buildings.

On that day, people carried a Mazu statue in a sedan chair from the temple and through the village, where people made sacrificial offerings. Everywhere the Mazu statue went, villagers lit candles, burned incense and prayed for their families' health.

Young man carried the Mazu statue across the river, and dozens of villagers played the role of water monsters to stop them. Finally, the statue was sent back to the temple.

Wei Yongbin, a Macao county sage, takes part in the Mazu cultural festival in Meilin village every year. He said he grew up and worshipped Mazu here. Mazu means a lot to him.

"Mazu is our common faith. Her fearlessness and struggle against danger is the spirit that we praise," said Wei Rongfu, another Macao county sage.

Wei Maoxiang said folk activities to commemorate Mazu have brought more profound cultural connotations into the Nanjing tulou and offer beautiful scenes.

He hopes the activity will be inherited and become a bond that connects people in Taiwan and elsewhere overseas to pay tribute to their ancestors, and provide new opportunities for tulou tourism development.