A traditional temple fair kicks off at the Nanhai God Temple in Guangzhou, southern China's Guangdong province, on Sunday, March 16, 2008. (Photo: people.com.cn)

Locals in and around Guangzhou, capital of southern China's Guangdong province, kicked off on Sunday a weeklong traditional culture festival, the biggest in the region.

The annual festival is being held at the city's ancient Nanhai God Temple. The fair has a 1,000-year-long history and is on the Guangdong provincial intangible cultural heritage list, Xinhua news agency reports.

Initially a worship ceremony of the Nanhai god, the fair has become the biggest cultural event in the Guangdong province. It brings together the region's best known folk artists and attracts visitors from throughout the province, as well as from neighboring Hong Kong and Macao.

This year's event welcomed over 60,000 visitors on the first day, Xinhua reports.

In ancient times, the temple fair was held to celebrate the birthday of the Nanhai god on the 13th day of the second lunar month. That day falls on March 20 this year, but the festival will continue through March 22.