Shanwei Festivals And Activities

Shanwei (汕尾) has one of Guangdong’s richest regional festival cultures. Its annual calendar combines Mazu beliefs, fishing traditions, Hailufeng opera, Yingge Dance, temple fairs, Hakka agricultural customs, revolutionary education, coastal sports and modern cultural exhibitions. Many activities follow the Chinese lunar calendar, while coastal carnivals, exhibitions and sporting events are announced separately each year.

Official information published in 2024 listed nine national-level, 30 provincial-level and 75 municipal-level intangible cultural heritage projects in Shanwei. However, a fourth group containing 38 additional municipal-level projects was approved in January 2026, meaning the commonly repeated figure of 75 municipal projects is no longer current.

Shanwei’s nine national-level heritage traditions include Zhengzi Opera (正字戏), Baizi Opera (白字戏), Xiqin Opera (西秦戏), Lufeng Shadow Puppetry (陆丰皮影戏), Ground-Rolling Golden Dragon Dance (滚地金龙), Qilin Dance (麒麟舞), Hetian High-Platform Performance (河田高景), Jiazi Yingge Dance (甲子英歌) and Shanwei Fishing Songs (汕尾渔歌). These traditions frequently appear during Spring Festival programmes, temple fairs, fishing celebrations and major public cultural events.

Festival schedules should always be checked before travel. Temple ceremonies follow lunar dates, while drone shows, music festivals, fireworks, markets and large performances may be organised for one particular year rather than becoming permanent annual events.

Shanwei Urban District: Mazu Culture and Coastal Celebrations

Shanwei Urban District (汕尾市城区) is the centre of the city’s maritime festivals and large public celebrations. The principal venues include Fengshan Mazu Cultural Square (凤山妈祖文化广场), Pinqing Lake (品清湖), the Cultural Tourism Wharf, West Beach (海滨西沙滩), Erma Road (二马路) and the waterfront parks.

Fengshan Mazu Temple Fair (凤山妈祖庙会) is an important provincial-level intangible cultural heritage tradition. Its ceremonies, processions and performances express the close relationship between Mazu belief, fishing communities and wishes for safety at sea. The exact programme follows the temple calendar and official announcements rather than a single fixed Gregorian date.

Spring Festival events in central Shanwei commonly feature Yingge Dance, Qilin Dance, fishing songs and traditional operas. In 2025, Fengshan Mazu Cultural Square hosted an exchange performance by Jiazi and Puning Yingge teams, but similar programmes should be treated as annually planned events rather than guaranteed fixed performances.

The waterfront also hosts modern holiday programmes. During the 2025 May Day holiday, West Beach presented a kite carnival and drone light show, while museums and island areas offered craft demonstrations and traditional music. These activities demonstrate Shanwei’s growing combination of coastal recreation and intangible heritage, although themes and venues can change each year.

Lufeng: Temple Fairs, Yingge Dance and Historic Coastal Culture

Lufeng City (陆丰市) is Shanwei’s strongest destination for temple fairs, folk performances and historic coastal-town culture. Important festival areas include Xuanwu Mountain (玄武山), Jieshi Ancient Town (碣石古城), Jiazi Town (甲子镇), Bomei Town (博美镇) and coastal Mazu temples.

Xuanwu Mountain Temple Fair (玄武山庙会) is a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage tradition centred on religious ceremonies at Yuanshan Temple (元山寺). Traditional programmes can include opera, lion and dragon dances, lantern displays, processions and community entertainment. Its scale and detailed schedule vary according to the temple calendar and local arrangements.

Jiazi Yingge Dance is one of Shanwei’s national-level heritage traditions and is especially active during Spring Festival and major cultural celebrations. The powerful drum rhythms, martial movements and painted costumes make it one of the most visually impressive festival experiences in eastern Guangdong.

Bomei is associated with Mazu traditions and Bomei Floating Figures (博美飘色). During major holidays, young performers dressed as characters from history, legends and traditional theatre appear to stand above decorated platforms, creating an elaborate moving folk spectacle.

Haifeng: Red Culture, Dragon Boats and Jewellery Events

Haifeng County (海丰县) combines revolutionary heritage with traditional opera, dragon-boat customs, agricultural markets and modern jewellery exhibitions. Festival travel can be linked with the Red Palace and Red Square Site (红宫红场旧址), Peng Pai’s Former Residence (彭湃故居), local theatres and the jewellery-producing towns of Ketang (可塘) and Meilong (梅陇).

Dragon-boat activities remain part of Haifeng’s Dragon Boat Festival traditions. However, large municipal productions do not necessarily take place in the same location every year. The major Pinqing Lake dragon-boat event held in 2025, for example, formed part of the first Cross-Strait Folk Culture and Sports Gathering and involved 31 teams; it should not automatically be described as a permanent annual race with the same programme.

Haifeng is also developing festival-style industrial tourism around its coloured-gemstone and jewellery industries. The first Shanwei International Jewelry Exhibition (首届汕尾国际珠宝展) was held from November 1 to 3, 2025, with a main exhibition in Haifeng and additional activities in Ketang and Meilong. Future editions and dates require confirmation because the 2025 event was the inaugural exhibition rather than a long-established annual fixture.

Luhe: Hakka Festivals and Rural Seasons

Luhe County (陆河县) offers a quieter festival environment based on Hakka customs, plum blossoms, mountain agriculture, village food and rural performances. Spring Festival programmes may include Hakka songs, local food fairs and village cultural activities, while winter and early spring bring seasonal plum-blossom tourism.

The Luhe Plum Blossom Cultural Tourism programme is usually arranged according to flowering conditions rather than a completely fixed date. Visitors should check blossom reports before booking, because warm or cold weather can move the peak viewing period.

Luhe is well suited to travellers seeking rural festivals without the large crowds of the Shanwei coast. Village activities are often community-based and may not be promoted far in advance in English.

Hongluo She Village and the Shenzhen–Shanwei Special Cooperation Zone

Hongluo She Village (红罗畲族村) is located in Ebu Town (鹅埠镇) within the Shenzhen–Shanwei Special Cooperation Zone (深汕特别合作区). Although historically connected with Haifeng and the wider Hailufeng cultural region, the cooperation zone is currently administered by Shenzhen rather than Shanwei Municipality. Hongluo should therefore be presented as an extended cultural excursion from Shanwei, not as one of Shanwei’s present administrative districts.

Hongluo is Shenzhen’s only concentrated ethnic minority village and preserves the language, food, ancestral customs and cultural traditions of the She community. Its most visitor-friendly celebration is the March Third Black Rice Festival (三月三乌饭节), held on the third day of the third lunar month.

During organised March Third programmes, villagers prepare black glutinous rice, wear traditional clothing, sing She songs and present dances, craft markets and community meals. The large public cultural programme held in 2023 also included ancestor ceremonies, a long-table banquet, folk sports and evening performances.

The village also preserves a traditional ancestral observance known locally as the Jigongwang Ancestral Festival (鸡公王诞) on the eighth day of the first lunar month. It is primarily a community ritual rather than a guaranteed public tourism festival, so visitors should obtain permission and confirm whether any public programme is being offered.

Spring Festival Season

The period from the first lunar month through the Lantern Festival is Shanwei’s most concentrated folk-cultural season. Typical programmes include temple worship, Yingge Dance, lion and dragon performances, opera, lanterns, food fairs and village processions.

Central Shanwei generally presents large urban performances and markets, while Lufeng offers stronger temple and ancient-town traditions. Xuanwu Mountain, Fengshan Mazu Temple, Jiazi, Bomei and numerous village temples may all organise activities, but programmes should be confirmed independently.

The city’s 2025 Spring Festival cultural season included Zhengzi Opera, Xiqin Opera, Baizi Opera, fishing songs, Yingge Dance, food competitions, New Year markets and village performances. The broad range illustrates the type of activity visitors may encounter, although the exact programme is redesigned each year.

March Third and Spring Countryside Festivals

The third lunar month is the main period for She cultural travel to Hongluo Village. Black rice preparation, ethnic clothing, songs and community celebrations provide opportunities for cultural study and photography.

Spring is also a good season for Luhe countryside visits, coastal kite activities and agricultural programmes. Many spring events depend on flowering periods, weather and public-holiday planning rather than a permanent annual schedule.

Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon-boat racing takes place in parts of Shanwei Urban District, Haifeng and Lufeng around the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Programmes may include boat races, lion dances, fishing songs, traditional food and local theatre.

The large Pinqing Lake performance of 2025 was connected with the Cross-Strait Folk Culture and Sports Gathering and attracted teams and guests from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Future Dragon Boat Festival events may use different venues and formats.

May Day and Summer Coastal Events

May Day and the summer holiday period increasingly feature coastal sports, markets, music, camping and cultural demonstrations. West Beach, Red Bay (红海湾), Jinting Bay (金町湾) and Pinqing Lake are common event locations.

In 2025, the city planned more than 40 sports and cultural activities between May and December, including water sports, intangible heritage performances, a sand-sculpture festival, camping, music and holiday carnivals. This was a specific annual campaign rather than a permanent fixed calendar.

Shanwei Fishing Opening Festival

The Shanwei Fishing Opening Tourism Festival (汕尾开渔文旅活动) is the city’s leading marine celebration. It is generally organised around August 16, when the South China Sea summer fishing moratorium ends and fishing vessels return to operation.

In 2025, the opening ceremony was held at Shanwei’s Cultural Tourism Wharf, followed by a seafood market, an evening performance, Erma Road promotions and a surfing carnival in Red Bay. The venue was changed from previous years, showing why travellers should verify the latest programme before arranging transport.

The festival is an excellent time to experience fishing-port culture, seafood markets, Shanwei Fishing Songs and other local performing arts. Boat trips and marine activities remain dependent on weather, sea conditions and licensed operators.

Mid-Autumn and National Day Activities

The Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday period commonly brings coastal markets, music, camping, sports and intangible heritage performances. Waterfront parks, beaches and major scenic areas often extend their evening programmes during the holiday.

These activities are usually announced shortly before the holiday and should not be assumed to repeat with identical drone shows, fireworks or concerts every year.

Cross-Strait Folk Culture and Sports Gathering

The first Cross-Strait Folk Culture and Sports Gathering (首届海峡两岸民俗文体汇) was a special year-long programme held in 2025. It opened at Xuanwu Mountain in March and included temple fairs, dragon boats, cycling, walking, food, poetry, coastal culture and intangible heritage activities.

The closing programme was held in December 2025, while the second edition in 2026 was planned as a joint programme involving Shanwei and five other Guangdong cities. It should therefore not be listed as a fixed annual November event held only at Xuanwu Mountain.

Winter and New Year Events

Winter activities focus on Luhe plum blossoms, seafood, rural markets, New Year performances and cultural fairs. Shanwei’s mild coastal climate also supports outdoor concerts and evening markets.

Specific New Year’s Eve concerts, fireworks and agricultural exhibitions are generally event-based. Travellers should wait for the official December programme rather than booking around an assumed permanent concert.

Recommended Festival Tour Routes

Two-Day Spring Festival Folk Culture Tour

Spend the first day in Shanwei Urban District visiting Fengshan Mazu Temple, Pinqing Lake and Erma Road. Attend officially announced Yingge, opera or lion-dance performances before staying in the city centre.

On the second day, travel to Xuanwu Mountain and Jieshi Ancient Town. Temple activities, traditional theatre and folk processions may be included when they coincide with the local calendar.

Fishing Opening Coastal Tour

Begin at the official fishing-opening venue in central Shanwei and explore the seafood market and waterfront activities. Continue to Red Bay for surfing, beach performances or evening music when included in the programme.

Large seafood banquets and boat excursions should be booked only through officially announced or licensed providers.

Hongluo She Culture Tour

Travel to Hongluo She Village during the March Third Black Rice Festival after confirming the public programme with the Shenzhen–Shanwei Special Cooperation Zone.

The visit may include black-rice preparation, traditional clothing, songs, village walking and a cultural market. Combine the second day with Haifeng’s Red Palace and Red Square for a route linking ethnic traditions and revolutionary history.

Dragon Boat and Intangible Heritage Tour

Spend Dragon Boat Festival in Shanwei Urban District or Haifeng, depending on the official race venue. Combine the event with Fengshan Mazu Temple, fishing-song performances and local food.

Continue to Lufeng for Zhengzi Opera, shadow puppetry, Yingge Dance or Xuanwu Mountain cultural activities when performances are available.

Winter Luhe and Haifeng Tour

Visit Luhe during the plum-blossom period and stay in a Hakka village or mountain guesthouse. Continue to Haifeng for revolutionary heritage, local theatre and traditional food.

This route is suited to travellers who prefer countryside culture and cooler weather rather than crowded coastal celebrations.

Festival Travel Advice

Major events such as the Fishing Opening Festival, Spring Festival performances and large temple fairs can attract substantial crowds. Reserve accommodation early and allow extra time for road controls, temporary pedestrian zones and parking restrictions.

Hongluo Village, rural Luhe and some Lufeng communities have limited public transport. Private vehicles, licensed coaches or pre-arranged transfers are more reliable for festival groups.

Temple rituals and ancestral ceremonies are living community traditions rather than staged tourist performances. Keep voices low, follow local instructions and request permission before photographing worshippers, ancestral images, ceremonial objects or private rituals.

Yingge Dance, lion processions and floating-figure performances attract dense crowds. Families should supervise children closely and avoid standing inside performance routes or beside firecrackers.

Outdoor events can be postponed because of rain, typhoons, rough seas or public-safety restrictions. Coastal programmes from June to October require particular attention to weather and marine warnings.

International visitors should not assume that all seafood markets, long-table meals or village banquets can accommodate halal, vegetarian or allergy-related requirements. Dietary needs should be arranged in advance.

Main Shanwei Festivals and Events

Festival Tours with Yaso Trip

Yaso Trip can arrange festival itineraries for international visitors, overseas Chinese groups, schools, universities and cultural organisations. Services may include multilingual guides, private transport, hotel bookings, temple and village coordination, intangible heritage performances, seafood meals, cultural workshops and festival photography support.

For study groups, programmes can combine the Fishing Opening Festival with marine culture, Haifeng with revolutionary history, Lufeng with opera and Yingge traditions, Luhe with Hakka agriculture, and Hongluo Village with respectful She cultural exchange.

Large groups should begin coordination well before Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, March Third and the Fishing Opening Festival. Public event schedules, road controls and performance access should be reconfirmed shortly before arrival.