Costumes worn by the people of the Manchu Eight Banners. [file photo]

The Start of Winter, when the autumn crops have been placed in storage, was a time for festival among the people of the Manchu Eight Banners and Han Eight Banners in Benxi of Liaoning province. Incense was burned and sacrifices offered to ancestors. The Eight Banners (baqi) were administrative/military divisions during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).