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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. | 
