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Traditional Chinese Festivals

These traditional festivals will really introduce you to life in China. There are annual events like Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, the Qingming (Tomb Sweeping) Festival, Double Seven Festival, and the Winter Solstice.

The festivals introduced here have been selected for their traditional Chinese nature. Often the dates will vary from year to year because they are celebrated according to the Chinese calendar. See below for this year’s dates. You may need to inquire for dates in the following year.

Contact us for more about how to see these festivals or you could tailor make a tour to include a festival alongside other Chinese attractions.

Traditional Festival Festivals and Events List

The 24 solar terms

The 24 solar terms based on the sun’s position in the zodiac, created by ancient farmers on the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, reflect the changes in climate, natural phenomena, agric... Read more

Grain Full (xiǎo mǎn小满)

In the Gregorian calendar, the Grain Full usually falls around May 21, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 60°. Literally, this day r... Read more

Rain Water (yǔ shuǐ雨水)

The Gregorian calendar, the Rain Water usually falls around February 18, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 330°. The day embodies t... Read more

Winter Solstice

In the Gregorian calendar, the Winter Solstice usually falls around December 21, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 270°. It ma... Read more

Vernal Equinox (chūn fēn春分)

Introduction In the Gregorian calendar, the Vernal Equinox usually falls around March 20, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 0°... Read more

Frost Descent (shuāng jiàng霜降)

Introduction In the Gregorian calendar,the Frost Descent usually falls around October 23, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude o... Read more

Minor Cold

Introduction In the Gregorian calendar, the Minor Cold usually falls around January 5, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 2... Read more

Major Cold

Introduction In the Gregorian calendar, the Major Cold usually falls around January 20, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitud... Read more

Cold Dew (hán lù寒露)

Introduction In the Gregorian calendar, the Cold Dew usually falls around October 8, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude o... Read more

Summer Solstice (xià zhì夏至)

Introduction In the Gregorian calendar, the Summer Solstice usually falls around June 21, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitu... Read more

Minor Snow

In the Gregorian calendar, the Minor Snow usually falls around November 22, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 240°. As its nam... Read more

White Dew (bái lù白露)

Introduction In the Gregorian calendar,the White Dew usually falls around September 7, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude ... Read more

Major Heat (dà shǔ大暑)

Introduction In the Gregorian calendar, the Major Heat usually falls around July 22, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 120°. G... Read more

Start of Spring

Introduction As the first solar term,the Start of Spring was celebrated as an important festival in ancient China, and it has been regarded as the mark of the beginning of spring since the Qin D... Read more

Awakening of Insects (jīng zhé惊蛰)

Introduction In the Gregorian calendar, the Awakening of Insects usually falls around March 5, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude ... Read more

Limit of Heat (chù shǔ处暑)

Introduction In the Gregorian calendar, the Limit of Heat usually falls around August 23, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitu... Read more

Start of Autumn (lì qiū立秋)

Introduction In the Gregorian calendar, the Start of Autumn usually falls around August 7, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longit... Read more

Clear and Bright (qīng míng清明)

Introduction In the Gregorian calendar,the Clear and Bright usually falls around April 4, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longit... Read more

Start of Winter (lì dōng立冬)

Introduction In the Gregorian calendar, the Start of Winter usually falls around November 7, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of... Read more

Start of Summer (lì xià立夏)

Introduction In the Gregorian calendar, the Start of Summer usually falls around May 5, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude... Read more

Grain in Ear (máng zhǒng芒种)

Introduction In the Gregorian calendar, the Grain in Ear usually falls around June 5, and more often refers in particular to the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude o... Read more

Chinese Lantern Festival

Feb. 24, 2013 to Feb. 24, 2013

Lantern Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first month of traditional Chinese calendar. As the first important festival after the traditional Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), it is ... Read more

Qingming Festival

Apr. 04, 2013 to Apr. 04, 2013

Qingming Festival, also called Tomb Sweeping Day or Pure Brightness in English, usually falls around April 4 or 5 in traditional Chinese calendar. In the beginning, this festival served as one of th... Read more

Double Seventh Festival

Aug. 21, 2013 to Aug. 21, 2013

The Qixi Festival, also known as the Double Seventh Day, is a traditional Chinese festival. It falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. It is also named the Qiqiao Festival, Young Women’... Read more

The Double Ninth Festival

Oct. 13, 2013 to Oct. 13, 2013

The Double Ninth Festival, also known as Chongyang Festival, is held on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. It is also known as the Senior Citizens’ Festival. According to records fr... Read more

Hungry Ghost Festival

Aug. 21, 2013 to Aug. 21, 2013

The Hungry Ghost Festival that is also known as the Zhongyuan Festival is one of four traditional festivals in China to worship ancestors. The other three are the Spring Festival, the Qingming Festi... Read more

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