New Year's Eve:
In cities throughout China; dances, music, acrobatics, comedy, folk customs and visits to historical sites. January 1st:
Striking Bells To Welcome The New Year, Hangzhou (Zhejiang), bells are struck to welcome New Year, dragon and lion dances, decorated boats on beautiful West Lake.
January - February:
Harbin Ice And Snow Festival, Harbin (Heilongjiang): giant ice sculptures, lit with colored lanterns standing in city square and along river, winter/ice swimming, ice hockey, skiing, film festival, folk ceremonies on ice.
January (Early): Jilin Rime Festival, Jilin (Jilin): colorful ice lanterns, ice and snow games, fireworks, parade of boats, Manchu and Korean dances.
January 15 - February 28: Beijing Longqing Gorge Ice and Snow Festival, Longqing (Beijing): ice lanterns, fireworks, ice fishing. February (Early):
Spring Festival Flower Fair, Guangzhou (Guangdong): flower markets throughout the city.
February (Early): Spring Festival: ushering in the lunar new year. February (Mid): Buddhist Assembly At Labrang
Monastery, Xiahe (Gansu): Monks of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism perform ritual dances, chant scriptures. February (Late):
assemblies In Taper Lamasery, Huangzhong (Qinghai): Tibetans celebrate Destruction of Death, display large Buddhist images, butter flowers exhibition, Buddhist scriptures chanted, ritual dances.
February-march: Lantern Festival, Zigong (Sichuan): lanterns of bamboo, silk, paper, porcelain dragons, glass peacocks. April (Early): Hainan International Coconut
Festival, throughout Hainan Island: lantern festival, dragon boat races, martial arts contests, Miao and Li ceremonies. Third Day Of The Third Lunar Month:
Li people of Hainan in archery contests, singing bamboo dancing. April (Early):
Dragon Boat Festival Qintong Town, Yangzhou City (Jiangsu): boat races, Operas, lion and dragon dances.
April (Month Long): Guizhou Azalea Festival, Qianxi and Dafang Counties(Guizhou): bonfires, minority folk dances visit Huangguoshu Waterfall. April (Mid): Water
Splashing Festival Of Dai People, Xishuangbanna (Yunnan): dragon boat races, fireworks, dances and splashing with water. April (Month Long):
Peony Fair, Luoyang (Henan: 350 varieties of peony on display in place where peonies first cultivated 1,400 years ago. Exhibitions of lanterns, paintings, calligraphy and photographs of the flowers.
April (Late):
Chang'an Annual International Calligraphy Meeting, Xi'an (Shaanxi): Chinese and foreign calligraphers display work, discuss four treasures, visit historic carved stones.
April(late):
Weifang International Kite Festival, Weifang (Shandong): kite contests, demonstrations, visit to Kite Museum. April(late): (Also Early October) Fijian Mazu Festival,
Meizhou island (Fujian): birthday of goddess of the sea Maze, prayers and offering at shrines. April (Month Long):
Guangxi International Folk Song Festival, Nanning City or Liuzhou City (Guangzi): folk songs, contests and fair. May (Late): Dalian Chinese Locust Blossom Festival, Dalian
(Liaoning): flower viewing, folk performances, sports. June (Mid): International Dragon Boat Festival, Yueyang (Hunan): crews from around the world compete in dragon boat races on South Lake.
June (Late):
Torch Festival of Yi Minority, Shicun Town & Chuxiong City (Yunnan): archery, horse races, bullfights, wrestling, bonfires, performances of Yi instruments.
June - July:
Carnivals in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and 17 holiday resorts stage dances, operas, acrobatics. June - July:
Daxing County Watermelon Festival, Daxing (Beijing): watermelon tasting, folk performances, visits to farmers' houses. July (Early):
Double Six Folk Song Fair, Xining (Qinghai): thousands of ethnic musical groups perform folk songs. July (Mid): Jiayuguan Pass International Hang Glider
Festival, Jiayuguan Pass (Gansu): hang gliding and Gobi Desert. July 15 - Ausust 30:
Nadam Grassland Tourist Festival, Inner Momngolia, Mongolian games with horse races, archery, wedding ceremonies, optional visit to Genghis Khan mausoleum. July (Late):
Torch Festival Of Yi Minority, Liangshan (Sichuan): horse races, singing contests, torch-light parade, bonfire. July 25 - August 25:
Mt Wutai International Tourist Month, Taibuai, Wutai County (Shanxi): mule and horse fair, Buddhist activities folk entertainment. July - August:
China Guizhou Famous Liquor And Wine Festival. Zunyi City & Shizhang Caves (Guizhou), museum of wine, Maotai brewery, visit to caves and waterfalls. August (Late):
Xinjiang Grape Festival, Turpan (Xinjiang): Uygur minority ceremonies and dances, hami melon contest, visits to vineyards. August (Late):
Tibetan Horse Race Festival, Nagqu (Tibet): horse races, mounted archery and horsemanship. August (Late):
China Changchun International Film Festival, Changchun (Jilin): Chinese and foreign films shown and appraised. August (Mid):
Qingdao International Beer Festival, Qingdao (Shandong): beer tasting fair, fireworks, fashion shows, sports contests. August (Mid):
Temple Fair, Jinhua (Anhui): Buddhist ceremonies and symposium, produce fair. August:
Tibetan Shotan Festival, Lhasa (Tibet): display of Buddhist images, operas, yogurt banquets. August - October:
Shopping Festivals in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Symphony Concerts performed by foreign and Chinese orchestras, in Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and on the Great Wall.
September (Mid): Zhangjiajie International Forest Festival, Zhangjiajie (Hunan): nature trails, white-water rafting, rock climbing. September (Late):
Suzhou Silk Tourist Festival, Suzhou (Jiangsu): silk exhibitions, trade talks.
September (Late):
Shanghai Tourist Festival, Shanghai: parade of floats, open air concerts, symposiums, tea cure exchange, Shanghai Citizen for a Day. September - October:
China Tourist Festival in Guangzhou: city festival, dance and stage entertainment, contests, shopping tours. September - October:
Hubei Three Gorges Art Festival, Yichang (Hubei): tours of Three Gorges, culture exhibitions, trade fair. September - October:
Qufu International Confucius Culture Festival, Qufu(Shandong): birthday of Confucius, memorial service, ancient music, exhibitions, seminars, visits to Confucian tombs. September:
Xi'an Ancient Culture Art Festival, Xi'an(Shaanxi): exhibitions, folk performances, trade fair. September:
International Qiantang River Tide-observing Festival, Yangguan, Hangzhou (Zhejiang): watch water reverse and thunder Lip river. September:
Zhengzhou International Shaolin Martial Arts Festival, Zhengzhou(Henan): martial arts demonstrations, displays and contests, folk art and customs. September:
Dalian International Fashion Festival, Dalian(Liaoning): fashion shows, trade fair, design competition, exhibitions. October (Mid):
Jingdezhen international Pottery And Porcelain Festival, Jingdezhen(Jiangxu): World Pottery Technique Competition, exhibition of pottery and pottery making, porcelain making techniques, contests, demonstrations and crafts for sale.
October:
Huangshan Mountain International Tourist Festival, Huangshan(Anhui): lantern festival, tour of mountains, folk performances, trade fair. October:
Baoding Health Building Festival For Seniors, Baoding(Hubei): senior citizens do Tai Ji exercises in parks, visit Qigong hospital, Martial Arts Hall and Medicine King Temple, taste traditional health foods.
November:
Guilin Scenery Festival Guilin(Guangxi): lantern festival on Li River, bonfire party, traditional song and dance. |
