With the first broken rays of morning sun lightingtheir ways through the drizzle, dozens of families streamtowards the Taiping Bridge at Jushui Pass in AnxianCounty. Locals are joined by neighbors from BeichuanCounty and cities of Mianyang and Deyang, all in Sich-uan Province. Regional residents gather there annuallyfor a single purpose: to ward off evil spirits and pray forgood luck by crossing the bridge.