Regional Festivals

1. Major Religious Assemblies in the Ta'er Lamasery

Date:
  • The 14th and 15th of the first lunar month
  • the 14th and 15th of the fourth lunar month
  • the seventh and eighth of the sixth lunar month
  • The 22nd and 23rd of the ninth lunar month
    Place: Huangzhong County, Qinghai Province
    Activities: Exhibitions of Tibetan, Tu and Mongolian butter flowers. In addition, Buddhist activities, such as displaying large Buddhist images under the sun are held.

    What happens?
  • On the 14th and 15th days of the first lunar month, the Yamataka, or Destruction of Death, dance will be performed and a large-scale exhibition of butter flowers is held.
     
  • On the 15th of the fourth lunar month, the Yamataka dance is performed and large images of Buddha are displayed under the sun.
     
  • From the seventh to the eighth of the sixth lunar month, Yamataka dances are held and images of the Buddha are displayed under the sun. In addition, Buddhist scriptures are recited.
     
  • On the 22nd and 23rd of the ninth lunar month, homage is paid to Buddha and the Hayagriva, or the Horse Necked God, and dance to commemorate the death of Master Tsong kappa.

    2. Harbin Ice and Snow Festival

    Date: January 5-February 5
    Place: Harbin, Heilongjiang Province
    Activities: In addition to the famous local and international ice lantern and snow sculpture exhibitions and contests, winter swimming, ice hockey and alpine and cross-country skiing contests are held. A film festival, as well as exhibitions of painting, calligraphy and photos is held. In addition, folk songs, dances and wedding ceremonies are performed on ice. Trade fairs are also organised.

    3. Striking Bells to Greet the New Year in Jingci Temple

    Date: January 1st
    Place: Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province
    Activities: When the New Year arrives, bells are rung and local residents perform dragon and lion dances. Visitors may board magnificent boats decorated with colourful lanterns to tour the West Lake and enjoy beautiful music and scenery.

    4. Buddhist Assembly in the Labrang Lamasery in Xiahe

    Date: There are seven assemblies annually. Among them, the most famous are the two that are held from the 4th to the 17th of the first lunar month and from the 29th of the sixth lunar month to the 15th day of the seventh lunar month
    Place: Labrang Lamasery, Xiahe, Gansu Province
    Activities: The Labrang Lamasery in Xiahe is one of the six major lamaseries of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism and is the site of the largest college of Lamaism in the world. Every year seven large Buddhist assemblies are held here.

    During the assemblies, various Buddhist activities are held. During this time, images of the Buddha are displayed, religious dances are performed, scriptures are chanted, and monks pray and debate scriptures. In addition, the month-long Tibetan Travel Festival is held.

    5. Jilin Rime Festival

    Date: The second 10-day period in January
    Place: Jilin City, Jilin Province
    Activities: A grand ice and colourful lantern show, ice and snow games, lanterns are released on the river, fireworks displays and a parade of colourful boats. Local people perform the northeastern Yangge dance. The folk festivals of the Manchu and Korean people are celebrated. Exhibitions of delicious northeastern cuisine and trade fairs are also organised.

    6. Beijing Longqing Gorge Ice and Snow Festival

    Date: January 15-February 29
    Place: Longqing Gorge in Yanqing County, Beijing
    Activities: Displays of ice lanterns, fireworks on ice, performances and fishing and other ice sports are arranged. Tourists may participate in the ice and snow revelry festival and visit the Great Wall at Badaling and the Kangxi grasslands.

    7. Spring Fireworks festival Dalian China

    Date: 2nd of the 1st lunar year
    Place: Xinghai Square, Dalian
    Activities: Grand fireworks display, tour of the nationally famous Snacks Street and Crafts Street and trade.

    8. Spring Festival Flower Fair

    Date: The 28th to the 30th of the 12th lunar month
    Place: Guangzhou, Guangdong Province
    Activities: The Spring Flower Fair is held during the Spring Festival (the 1st day of the 1st Chinese lunar month), and is a traditional cultural activity unique to Guangzhou citizens.

    During the festival, flower farmers deliver huge numbers of fresh flowers to Guangzhou and set up a flower show along the city's major streets. People, old and young, visit the show to appreciate and purchase the flowers.

    9. Hainan International Coconut Festival

    Date: The first 10-day period in April (the third day of the third lunar month)
    Places: Haikou City, Wenchang County, Tongzha City and Sanya City in Hainan Province
    Activities: The celebration of the lantern festival in Haikou, Coconut Street, Gala of the Miao and Li ethnic groups, the international dragon boat race, national martial arts contests, performances, sports, Miao and Li wedding ceremonies, and ceremonies for offering sacrifices to ancestors.

    10. The Lantern Festival in Zigong Sichuan

    Date: From early February to early March
    Place: Zigong City, Sichuan Province
    Activities: The Lantern Festival in Zigong has a long history, dating back to the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties. During the festival, outstanding samples of China's colourful traditional lanterns are shown. In addition, 'dragons' are pieced together with porcelain dinner sets, and 'peacocks' are created from glass bottles. These are displayed along with bamboo, silk and paper lanterns. This integration of beautiful shapes, brightly coloured lights, movement and sound represents a high degree of workmanship. Tourists can feast their eyes on more than 100 collections of large lanterns, as well as several thousand artistic lanterns. During the festival, various commodity exhibitions and trade fairs are held.

    11. The Qinghai Double-Six Folk Song Fair

    Date: From July 3-9 (the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, the sixth day of the sixth lunar month and the 15th day of the seventh lunar month)
    Place: Xining, Qinghai Province
    Activities: Tens of thousands of singers and participants from the Hui, Dongxiang and Bao'an ethnic groups come to Lotus Hill to sing folk songs. Many other activities such as touring the mountains, singing in the ethnic style, drinking, village theatrical performances and commodity fairs will also be held.

    12. The Water-Splashing Festival of the Dai in Yunnan

    Date: April 13-15
    Place: Jinghong City in the Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province
    Activities: Dragon boat races, fireworks, foot-drum dance, peacock dance, visiting parks and fairs and sprinkling water (symbolising auspiciousness).

    • 13. Boat Festival in Qintong Town, Yangzhou

    Date: April 4-6
    Places: Qintong Town, Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province
    Activities: A festival with a local flavour, in addition to boat races, farmers gather together from surrounding towns and townships and perform operas and lion and dragon dances on boats.

    14. Chang'an Annual lnternational Calligraphy Meeting

    Date: April 20-26
    Place: Xian, Shaanxi Province
    Activities: A large inauguration ceremony is held. Inscriptions are written on a 100-metre-long scroll. The Chinese and foreign calligraphers' associations will issue annual meeting certificates, and the four treasures of the study (writing brush, ink, ink stone and paper) will be on display. Tourists may visit and appreciate the calligraphy masterpieces engraved on stone tablets at the Forest of Steles, Jiucheng and Shimen.

    15. Luoyang Peony Fair

    Date: April 15-25
    Places: Luoyang City, Henan Province
    Activities: Luoyang began the cultivation of the peony 1,400 years ago, and over 350 varieties are grown there today. During the fair, the city blooms with the beautiful flowers, which give out a faint scent. During the fair, large performances are held. Visitors may view flowers, visit exhibitions of lanterns, paintings, calligraghy and photographs, and take part in symposiums and business talks. Tourists may visit the renowned Longmen Grottoes, the White Horse Temple and ancient tombs.

    16. Guangxi International Folk Song Festival

    Date: The last 10-day period in April (the third day of the third lunar month)
    Place: Nanning City or Liuzhou City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
    Activities: A Chinese folk song competition is held, with performances by Chinese and foreign folk singers, multi-ethnic gatherings are organised and visitors may also attend trade fairs and participate in various local tours.

    17. Weifang International Kite Festival

    Date: April 20-25
    Place: Weifang City, Shandong Province
    Activities: Weifang is known as the 'World Kite Capital'. The head office of the International Kite Federation is located at the Weifang Kite Museum. During the festival, an inauguration ceremony, kite flying ceremony and international and domestic kite contests are held, where the 10 best kites are selected. Tourists may visit the Kite Museum, enjoy Yangjiabu folk art performances and go shopping. In the Shijiazhuang Folk Custom Tourist Village, visitors may stay in farmers' homes, enjoy meals and interaction with the local residents.

    18. Fujian Mazu Festival

    Date: April 25, October 4
    Place: Meizhou Island, Putian, Fujian Province
    Activities: Mazu is the name of a legendary sea goddess born in 960. Tradition has it that Mazu protects boats and saves people from drowning in the sea. The 23rd day of the third lunar month is celebrated as her birthday; the ninth day of the ninth lunar month is the day when Mazu supposedly passed away. On these two days every year, thousands of local residents and compatriots from Taiwan come to pay homage to Mazu. During the festival, visitors join in the activities to pay respect to Mazu, take part in the study of Mazu culture, go shopping at the arts and crafts exhibitions, and enjoy folk songs and dances and taste Fujian cuisine.

    19. Dalian Chinese Scholartree Blossom Affairs

    Date: The last 10-day period of May
    Place: Dalian, Liaoning Province
    Activities: Tourists may enjoy Chinese locust flowers, watch folk performances, and participate in cultural and sport activities and various special tourist activities.

    20. Guizhou Azalea Festival

    Date: April 8-22
    Places: Qianxi and Dafang counties, Guizhou Province
    Activities: In addition to the opening ceremony, tourists may watch performances by the Yi, Miao and Buyi ethnic groups, participate in the Bonfire Revelry Festival, taste local delicacies and visit the scenic Zhijin Caves, and the famous Huangguoshu Waterfall, one of the largest waterfalls in China.

    21. Yueyang International Dragon Boat Festival

    Date: June 10-14
    Place: South Lake in Yueyang, Hunan Province
    Activities: The Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, in commemoration of Qu Yuan, a great poet of ancient times. During the festival, people throughout the country hold dragon boat races, eat Zongzi (a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves), drink realgar wines and hang Artemisia argyi (Chinese herbs used for air disinfection) in the doorway. Over 20 teams from the United States, Canada, Australia and countries throughout South East Asia and other parts of the world participate in the dragon boat races. In addition, Dragon boat folk performances are held.

    22. Mt. Wutai International Tourist Month

    Date: July 25-August 25
    Place: Taihua Town, Wutai County, Shanxi Province
    Activities: Mt. Wutai is one of four famous Buddhist mountains in China. In the sixth lunar month every year, a mule and horse fair is held here. During the festival, there are Buddhist activities, folk recreational activities and mule and horse exchange fairs.

    23. Jiayuguan Pass International Glider Festival

    Date: July 15-18
    Place: Jiayuguan Pass Glider Base, Gansu Province
    Activities: Glider contests and flight training are arranged. After the competition, silver, gold and diamond flight badges are awarded. Tourists may experience this unique mode of air travel and enjoy the mystical colours of the vast Gobi Desert and the splendour of the snow-covered Qilian Mountains. Tourists may also visit Jiayuguan Pass, the western end of the Great Wall, Jiuquan and Dunhuang,home to the greatest collection of Buddhist sutra and frescos in China.

    24. China Changchun International Film Festivals

    Date: August 23-28
    Place: Changchun, Jilin Province
    Activities: During the festival, domestic and foreign movie stars put on performances, Chinese and foreign movies are shown and reviewed, and 'Changchun Commemorative Cups' are issued. In addition, trade fairs and exhibitions of high-tech products are held. Guandong lantern and food festivals are also arranged and the unique Yangge dance of the northeast is performed.

    25. Qingdao International Beer Festival

    Date: In the second 10-day period of August
    Place: Qingdao City, Shandong Province
    Activities: Large recreational performances, artistic tours, fashion shows, ocean-side fireworks, sporting events, trade fairs and symposiums for the exchange of brewing technology are to be held.

    26. Jiuhua Temple Fair

    Date: The second 10-day period in August (the 30th day of the seventh lunar month)
    Place: Anhui Province
    Activities: Religious gatherings and symposiums for eminent monks are held and light-emitting Buddhist statues are displayed. In addition, commodity fairs are arranged.

    27. Daxing County Watermelon Festival

    Date: June to July
    Place: Daxing County, Beijing
    Activities: Tours of watermelon fields and watermelon tasting events are held. Folk performances are given, and tourists may visit farmers' houses.

    28. China Guizhou Famous Liquor and Wine Festival

    Date: July to August
    Place: Zunyi City, Maotai Township in Renhuai, and the Shizhang Caves in Chishui, Guizhou Province
    Activities: An opening ceremony and large recreational performances are held. Tourists may visit the Zunyi Museum of Liquor and Wine and the Maotai Brewery, home of China's most famous Baijiu, or "white spirit". Other tourist attractions include the site of China's historical Zunyi Meeting and the waterfalls at the Shizhang Caves.

    29. Xinjiang Grape Festival

    Date: August 20-26
    Place: Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
    Activities: Tourists may attend Uygur wedding ceremonies and performances of lighthearted and graceful local dances. Hami melon contest is held, and trade fairs are arranged. In addition, travellers may visit the grape, melon and fruit streets and see commercial camel teams travelling along the Silk Road as they did 2,000 years ago.

    30. Shanghai Huangpu Tourist Festival

    Date: September 21-27
    Place: Shanghai
    Activities: Performances on large decorated floats, open-air concerts, Chinese-foreign tea culture exchanges, symposiums on international tourism and displays of the art and culture of the Red Mansions. The tour packages include Shanghai Citizenship for One Day, Discovering the Essence of Shanghai, and a Night Cruise over the Huangpu River. There are shopping centres and a world of delicious food.

    31. Zhangjiajie International Forest Festival

    Date: September 18
    Place: Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province
    Activities: Zhangjiajie is the first national forest park established in China, with over 97 percent of its area covered by trees. During the festival, tourists may join nature trails, rafting on the Maoyan River and take part in an international mountaineering and rock climbing invitational. The Tujia people will put on performances, practice Qigong and perform rock climbing.

    32. Suzhou Silk Tourist Festival

    Date: September 20-25
    Place: Suzhou, Jiangsu Province
    Activities: Suzhou is known as the "Silk Capital", since it is one of the most important silk producers in China. During the festival, silk garments, exhibitions, trade talks and various recreational performances centred on silk are arranged.


    33. Jingdezhen International Pottery and Porcelain Festival and the World Pottery Technique Competition

    Date: October 11-14
    Place: Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province
    Activities: Jingdezhen is known as the porcelain capital of China. Its kiln fires have been burning for over 1,000 years. In the past millennium, high-quality porcelain produced in Jingdezhen has attracted people from all over the world. During the festival, an international exhibition of ancient local pottery and porcelain products and an exhibition of works by Jingdezhen's famous modern artisans are held. In addition, exhibitions of pottery and porcelain-making techniques, tea-making, international academic exchanges on pottery and porcelain and trade talks are arranged. Tourists may participate in tours concerning pottery and porcelain, such as tours of the porcelain-making techniques of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), tours of historical pottery and porcelain sites and the study of pottery and porcelain.

    34. Xian Ancient Culture Art Festival

    Date: September
    Place: Xian, Shaanxi Province
    Activities: Large-scale culture and art performances, folk performances, exhibitions of traditional culture and trade fairs are held.

    35. International Qiantang River Tide-Observing Festival

    Date: September (the 18th day of the eighth lunar month)
    Place: Yanguan, Haining County, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province
    Activities: The tides of the Qiantang River are a natural wonder. When the tides come in, the water and sky are linked together, and are accompanied by a thundering sound. With water that rises several metres high, the scene of rolling waves is magnificent. Since the Han and Tang Dynasties, people have observed the river's tides. This custom is carried on today. At the opening ceremony, local song and dance performances are presented. During the festival, ethnic group songs and dances are performed. In addition, business talks and other folk activities are held.

    36. Zhengzhou International Shaolin Martial Arts Festival

    Date: September
    Place: Shaolin Temple of Zhengzhou, Henan Province
    Activities: The Shaolin sect of martial arts dates back to the Tang Dynasty and reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Gradually, the martial arts of Shaolin Temple spread among the people. Here tourists can watch the skilful, unpredictable and mysterious art of Chinese Kungfu fighting.

    During the festival, various Shaolin martial arts performances and contests are held and international martial arts exchange activities are arranged. In addition, tours to the Zhengzhou Yellow River Tourist Area offer tourists a taste of folk customs on the both sides of the Yellow River.

    37. Dalian International Fashion Festival

    Date: Early September
    Place: Dalian, Liaoning Province
    Activities: Events include a large evening performance at the city square, an international fashion fair, business talks for exporting garments, a Chinese youth fashion design competition and fashion shows.

    38. Qufu International Confucius Culture Festival

    Date: September 26-October 10
    Place: Qufu, Shandong Province
    Activities: The 27th day of the eighth lunar month is the birthday of Confucius, a great Chinese philosopher and educator.

    During the festival, a memorial ceremony for Confucius is held along with a ceremony with performances of ancient music and dances commemorating Confucius. A Confucius exhibition, a local calligraphy show and trade talks are held. The tombs of Confucius and his descendants, the Confucian family mansion, the Confucius Temple, and Confucius' birthplace are open for tourists. Visitors may also participate in research of Confucius' educational theories, attend local wedding ceremonies and taste the famous Shandong cuisine.

    39. Guilin Scenery Festival

    Date: October 31-November8
    Place: Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
    Activities: An opening ceremony and an autumn lantern festival on the Lijiang River are held. Moreover, an evening tour of the Lijiang River will show beautifully shaped lanterns that combine sound, light, colour and movement. On Love Island, a bonfire is lit, barbecues are held and folk songs and dance is performed Tourists may experience Guilin's ancient culture and visit the Hot Springs in nearby Longsheng.

    40. Beijing Opera Art Festival

    Date: Once every two years
    Place: Tianjin
    Activities: Domestic and foreign Beijing opera artists will take the stage and perform. Travellers can visit the Street of Ancient Culture and the popular Nanshi Food Street.

    41. Hubei Three Gorges Art Festival

    Date: September to October
    Place: Yichang, Hubei Province
    Activities: With the beautiful scenery of the famous Three Gorges as the core, programs to display Hubei culture are arranged such as tours of the Three Gorges, Shennongjia and the Wudang Mountain. In addition, economic and trade activities are held.

    42. Huangshan Mountain International Tourist Festival

    Date: October
    Place: Huangshan Mountain, Anhui Province
    Activities: A traditional lantern festival, folk performances, tours of Huangshan Mountain and Huizhou's ancient architecture and business talks for inviting investment and exhibitions of commodities are arranged.

    43. Baoding Health-Building Festival for Seniors

    Date: October (the ninth day of the ninth lunar month)
    Place: Baoding, Hebei Province
    Activities: Tourists may visit senior citizens doing morning exercises in local parks, visit the Qigong Hospital, the Martial Arts Hall, the medicine market in Anguo, the Medicine King Temple, the provincial viceroy's residence and the ancient Lotus Pond.