| 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. |