China Festivals

Gurbang Festival of Uzbek Ethnic Group

Pilik Lamp Festival of Tajik Ethnic Group

The Paska Festival of Russian Ethnic Group

North China's Inner Mongolia Embraces Naadam Season

Cherry Blooms Earlier for Shanghai's Baoshan Festival

Shanghai Tourism Festival

Double Third Festival of Zhuang in Guangxi

2019 Water Splashing Festival in Xishuangbanna-09

2019 Water-sprinkling Festival Marked in Yunnan, SW China

China Festivals refer to a wide range of traditional celebrations, national holidays, cultural events, and international festivals in China. These festivals reflect China’s long history, diverse ethnic culture, and modern lifestyle. They include official public holidays, ancient traditional festivals, ethnic minority celebrations, tourism festivals, and even widely celebrated Western festivals in China.

The most important part of China public holidays includes major events such as Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), Qingming Festival, Labor Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day. These holidays are recognized nationwide and often come with extended vacation periods, making them the peak travel seasons in China.

China is also famous for its rich traditional Chinese festivals, which are deeply connected to the lunar calendar and cultural customs. Festivals such as the Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival are widely celebrated across cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and rural areas alike, showcasing traditional food, rituals, and family gatherings.

In addition, ethnic minority festivals in China add unique cultural diversity, especially in regions like Yunnan Province, where groups such as the Dai, Yi, and Miao celebrate colorful events like the Water-Splashing Festival and Torch Festival. Meanwhile, large-scale tourism festivals in China and imported Western festivals like Christmas and Valentine’s Day further enrich China’s modern festival culture.

Overall, China festivals represent a powerful combination of history, culture, tourism, and celebration, making them an essential part of any China travel experience.

Ethnic Minority Festivals

China is a large country with 55 ethnic minorities. There are public holidays celebrate by certain ethnic minorities in certain regions, which are decided by local governments. It is estimated that more than 1,200 of the 1,700 Chinese festivals belong to ethnic minorities. All these traditional ethnic minority festivals are regarded as indispensable components of the minorities' customs. Ethnic festivals are always fulled with beautiful legends and featured activities to celebrate. Below are some major ethnic minority festivals celebrated in China widely.

Night of Power or Lailah al-Qadr in China

Night of Power, also known as Lailah al-Qadr (盖德尔夜), is one of the most sacred nights in Islam. Known as the “Night of Decree” or the “Honorable Night”, it occurs during Ramadan (斋...

Bara’a Night in China

Bara’a Night, widely known as Shab-e-Barat or Laylat al-Bara’ah (白拉台节 / 白拉特夜 / 换文卷节), is one of the most significant Islamic observances in China. It is celebrated on the night bet...

Isra and Mi'raj Festival in China

The Isra and Mi'raj Festival (登霄节 / 米尔拉吉节, Isra wa al-Mi'raj) is a deeply revered Islamic religious observance celebrated primarily by China’s Hui (回族, Hui Zu), Dongxiang (东乡族, Don...

Ashura Festival in China

The Ashura Festival (阿述拉节, Ashura Jie), also known as the Grain Festival (粮食节, Liangshi Jie) or Mama Hui (妈妈会, Mama Hui), is a traditional festival celebrated by Northwest Chinese ...

Mawlid al-Nabi: Prophet’s Birthday (Shengji Festival)

Mawlid al-Nabi (冒路德・安奈比), also known as the Prophet’s Birthday, is one of the three core Islamic festivals celebrated by Chinese Muslims (Hui, 回族). In China, this festival is often...

Eid al-Fitr: The Festival of Breaking the Fast in China

Eid al-Fitr (开斋节 / 肉孜节) is one of the two major Islamic festivals celebrated by Muslims worldwide, with the other being Eid al-Adha (古尔邦节 / 尔德・艾祖哈). In China, the Hui Muslims (回族) ...

Top Traditional and Ethnic Festivals in China

China is a land of rich cultural heritage and diverse ethnic traditions, with a vast array of festivals that are celebrated throughout the year. From ancient traditional holidays r...

Eid al-Adha – The Sacrifice Festival (Zhaisheng)-The Islamic New Year

Eid al-Adha (宰牲节), also known as the Sacrifice Festival, is one of the most significant religious celebrations in Islamic regions. In Arabic, it is called ʿĪd al-Aḍḥā (尔德·艾祖哈) or ʿ...

Ma Guai Festival of Zhuang Ethnic Group

The Ma Guai Festival (蚂拐节), also known as the Frog Festival, is a distinctive cultural celebration of the Zhuang people (壮族), particularly in regions such as Donglan (东兰), Bama (巴马...

March 3rd Festival of Zhuang Ethnic Group

The March 3rd Festival (三月三节), also known as the Song Fairy Festival (歌仙节), is the most celebrated cultural event among the Zhuang people (壮族). This festival, held annually on the ...

National Holidays in China

National holidays in China, also called public holidays, are: New Year, the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), the Qingming Festival, Labor Day, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day. Besides, there are additional holidays for specific social groups such as International Women’s Day, Youth Day, etc. Each year’s holidays are announced about three weeks before the start of the year by the General Office of the State Council. Weekends are usually swapped with the weekdays next to the actual holiday to create a longer holiday period.

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Labor Day (May Day)

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China National Day

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Tourism Festivals in China

In recent years, there are many tourism festivals administered by regional governments, who organize tourism festivals in order to make local scenic locations better known to people. China boasts many picturesque destinations and profound culture, so different places have different places of interest. Various tourism festivals held in different areas shows tourists interesting activities like art performance and mountain climbing to give them an insight into local culture and customs. Here are some famous tourism festivals in China for you.

Jingdezhen International Pottery and Porcelain Festival

Jingdezhen International Pottery and Porcelain Festival is an annual event held in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, China. As one of the most famous centers of porcelain production in...

Zhangjiajie International Forest Festival

Zhangjiajie International Forest Festival is an annual event held in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, China. Zhangjiajie is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, including the ...

Zhengzhou International Shaolin Martial Arts Festival

Zhengzhou International Shaolin Martial Arts Festival is an annual event held in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China, which serves as a celebration of the rich heritage and cultural s...

Xi'an Ancient Culture Art Festival

If you're looking to immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry of ancient China, the Xi'an Ancient Culture Art Festival is an unmissable experience. Held annually in the histo...

Xinjiang Grape Festival

Grape Festival in Turpan on the Silk Road is held in celebration of the 2011-year hisroty of the Silk Road. The Silk Road within China is more than 4,000 kilometers long, and it’s ...

Mt. Wutai International Tourist Month

Mt. Wutai International Tourist Month is an annual event held in Mount Wutai, a renowned Buddhist pilgrimage site located in Shanxi Province, China. This month-long festival celebr...

Chang'an Annual lnternational Calligraphy Meeting

The Chang'an Annual International Calligraphy Meeting is a prestigious event that celebrates the art of calligraphy and brings together calligraphers from around the world. Held in...

Lantern Festival in Zigong Sichuan

The Lantern Festival in Zigong, Sichuan, is a vibrant and enchanting celebration that takes place annually, attracting visitors from all over China and beyond. Zigong, renowned for...

Hainan International Tourism Island Carnival

The Hainan International Tourism Island Carnival is an annual event held in Hainan, China's southernmost province and its only tropical island. As one of the largest tourism events...

Pingyao International Photography Festival

Pingyao International Photography Festival is an annual event held in Pingyao, a well-preserved ancient town located in Shanxi Province, China. This festival serves as a significan...

Traditional Festivals in China

The traditional Chinese holidays are an essential part of harvests or prayer offerings, which boast rich cultural meaning and a long history and is an important and brilliant part of Chinese culture. All traditional holidays are scheduled according to the Chinese calendar (except the Qingming Festival and Winter Solstice Day). The most important Chinese holiday is the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), which is also celebrated in Taiwan and overseas ethnic Chinese communities. China is a multi-ethnic country, and each ethnic group has its own cultural customs. You can see more traditional festivals of ethnic minorities.

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Western Festivals in China

Many Chinese especially those on the Eastern Seaboard in China who have long contact with the West and Western people are familiar with Western Festivals. No one can have failed to notice the fact that Western festivals are gaining ever-increasing popularity in China. An increasing number of Chinese are fond of celebrating Western festivals today.