Liuzhou Festivals And Activities

Liuzhou, known as the Dragon City, is one of the most culturally diverse destinations in Guangxi, where traditional Chinese customs, ethnic minority heritage, industrial culture, and modern tourism events come together. Located in central Guangxi, Liuzhou is home to the Zhuang, Miao, Dong, Mulam, and Yao ethnic groups, creating a rich festival system with distinctive local characteristics.

Liuzhou’s festival tourism is mainly composed of three cultural categories: traditional seasonal festivals, ethnic minority cultural celebrations, and tourism-industry events. The city’s northern areas, especially Rongshui Miao Autonomous County and Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, preserve some of the most representative ethnic festivals in Guangxi, while the urban districts focus on city celebrations, food culture, flower festivals, sports events, and industrial tourism activities.

The city’s festival resources are distributed across several cultural regions. Chengzhong District and Yufeng District are the urban cultural centers, hosting major events such as the Liuzhou Bauhinia Flower Cultural Tourism Festival（柳州紫荆花文化旅游节）, Yufeng Singing Festival（鱼峰歌圩）, Liuzhou Marathon（柳州马拉松）, and Liuzhou Luosifen Food Festival（柳州螺蛳粉美食节）.

Liunan District and Liubei District focus on food culture, industrial tourism, countryside activities, and agricultural experiences, especially around the world-famous Liuzhou Luosifen industry.

Liujiang District and Liucheng County combine rural landscapes with ethnic traditions, featuring the Mulam Yifan Festival（仫佬族依饭节）, citrus harvest celebrations, lotus festivals, and traditional village activities.

Luzhai County is known for ancient town culture and traditional temple fairs, especially the historic Zhongdu City God Temple Fair（中渡“五月二十八”城隍庙会）.

Rong’an County, Rongshui Miao Autonomous County, and Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County form Liuzhou’s ethnic cultural corridor, where visitors can experience Miao slope festivals, Lusheng performances, Dong Grand Songs, drum towers, wind-and-rain bridges, and traditional village celebrations.

For international cultural exchange groups and study tours, Liuzhou festivals provide opportunities for immersive experiences, including bilingual cultural explanations, ethnic handicraft workshops, traditional banquets, costume experiences, and interaction with local communities.

Major Festival Areas and Key Events in Liuzhou

Chengzhong District and Yufeng District | Urban Cultural Festival Center

The central urban area represents the modern face of Liuzhou, combining historical traditions, city culture, food tourism, and riverside entertainment. These festivals are easily accessible and suitable for short visits, family trips, and international visitors.

Liuzhou Bauhinia Flower Cultural Tourism Festival（柳州紫荆花文化旅游节）

Held from March to April, the festival celebrates the blooming season of Liuzhou’s famous bauhinia flowers. The city becomes a large-scale flower landscape with photography activities, cultural markets, city walks, and creative products. It is one of Liuzhou’s most attractive spring tourism events.

Liuzhou Marathon（柳州马拉松）

Usually held from late March to early April, the marathon route connects the beautiful Liujiang River scenery and urban flower areas. It combines sports tourism with city sightseeing and has become an important annual event.

Yufeng Singing Festival and March 3 Folk Song Festival（鱼峰歌圩·三月三山歌节）

Held around Yufeng Mountain during the traditional Zhuang March 3 festival period, the event features folk song competitions, ethnic costumes, traditional performances, and cultural exhibitions. It continues Guangxi’s famous mountain singing traditions.

Lantern Festival Dragon King Parade（元宵龙王出游）

Celebrated on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, this traditional Liuzhou folk activity features parades, folk performances, and local customs along the city streets and riverside areas.

Liuzhou Luosifen Food Festival（柳州螺蛳粉美食节）

As the birthplace of Luosifen, Liuzhou regularly organizes food festivals featuring tasting activities, production demonstrations, cultural exhibitions, and food markets. Visitors can experience the complete cultural chain behind this famous local dish.

Baili Liujiang Night Tourism Carnival（百里柳江夜游嘉年华）

Held mainly during summer, autumn, and national holidays, the event combines river cruises, light shows, cultural performances, and riverside markets, creating one of Liuzhou’s most popular night tourism experiences.

Liunan District and Liubei District | Food Industry and Countryside Festival Area

The western urban districts highlight Liuzhou’s food industry and rural tourism resources.

Luosifen Cultural Tourism Events（螺蛳粉文化旅游活动）

The Luosifen industry has developed into a major tourism attraction. Visitors can explore production workshops, learn about ingredients, experience DIY cooking, taste different flavors, and purchase local food products.

Countryside Harvest Festival（乡村丰收节） and Agricultural Picking Festival（乡村采摘节）

During summer and autumn, countryside areas around Liuzhou organize fruit picking, farming experiences, agricultural exhibitions, and rural markets. These activities are especially suitable for families, students, and educational groups.

Liujiang District and Liucheng County | Rural Culture and Mulam Heritage Area

This region combines farming traditions, ethnic culture, and countryside tourism.

Mulam Yifan Festival（仫佬族依饭节）

Usually held around the tenth month of the lunar calendar in Guzhai Mulam Ethnic Township, the festival is one of the most important traditional celebrations of the Mulam people.

The festival includes ancestor worship ceremonies, traditional performances, ethnic banquets, and community gatherings. It provides visitors with a deeper understanding of Mulam history, beliefs, and agricultural culture.

Liucheng Mandarin Orange Cultural Tourism Festival（柳城蜜桔文化旅游节）

Held in November, this festival celebrates local agricultural products through fruit picking, agricultural exhibitions, rural tourism activities, and local product markets.

Baipeng Lotus Festival（百朋荷花节）

Held from June to July in Liujiang District, the festival combines lotus flower viewing, countryside photography, rural markets, and leisure tourism.

Luzhai County | Ancient Town and Traditional Folk Culture Area

Zhongdu City God Temple Fair（中渡“五月二十八”城隍庙会）

The Zhongdu City God Temple Fair is one of Guangxi’s representative traditional folk events. Held on the 28th day of the fifth lunar month, the festival features temple ceremonies, folk parades, traditional opera performances, ancient town banquets, and cultural markets.

The event allows visitors to experience the traditional lifestyle of an ancient riverside town and is ideal for cultural photography and heritage tourism.

Zhongdu Rural Tourism Cultural Festival（中渡乡村旅游文化节）

During national holidays, Zhongdu Ancient Town often hosts additional cultural activities combining music, local food, traditional crafts, and rural tourism experiences.

Rongshui Miao Autonomous County | Miao Ethnic Festival Center

Rongshui is one of the most important Miao cultural destinations in Guangxi, famous for its mountains, traditional villages, Lusheng music, and ethnic celebrations.

Miao Slope Festival Group（苗族系列坡会群）

Held from the third to seventeenth day of the Lunar New Year, the Miao Slope Festival Group is a national intangible cultural heritage tradition.

Different villages organize celebrations on different days, including:

• Lusheng performances
• Traditional Miao dances
• Horse fighting competitions
• Miao costume displays
• Folk songs
• Village gatherings

The festival represents a living ethnic tradition and attracts photographers, researchers, and international cultural travelers.

Rongshui Lusheng Horse Fighting Festival（融水芦笙斗马节）

Usually held in late November, this festival combines Miao music, traditional competitions, ethnic costumes, and cultural performances. It is one of Rongshui’s most representative tourism events.

Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County | Dong Ethnic Festival Center

Sanjiang is the cultural heart of the Dong people and is famous for Dong Grand Songs, drum towers, wind-and-rain bridges, and traditional villages.

Fulu March 3 Firecracker Festival（富禄三月三花炮节）

Held on the third day of the third lunar month, this traditional Dong festival features firecracker competitions, Dong songs, Lusheng performances, folk dances, and traditional ceremonies.

Dong Grand Song Festival（侗族大歌节）

The festival showcases the famous Dong multi-part singing tradition. Visitors can enjoy performances in Chengyang Eight Villages and other Dong communities.

Duoye Festival（多耶节）

This traditional Dong celebration features group dances, singing, village gatherings, and cultural exchanges.

Dong Singing Hall Festival（侗族踩歌堂）

Held during traditional festival periods, villagers gather for singing, dancing, and community celebrations.

Dong Spring Festival Customs（侗族春节民俗活动）

During the Spring Festival period, Dong villages organize welcoming ceremonies, wedding customs, village banquets, and traditional performances.

Four Seasons Festival Travel Guide in Liuzhou

Spring (March–May) | Bauhinia Flowers and Folk Culture Season

Spring is one of the best periods to experience Liuzhou’s city culture and ethnic traditions. The weather is comfortable, flowers are blooming, and many cultural activities take place.

Recommended experiences include the Liuzhou Bauhinia Flower Cultural Tourism Festival（柳州紫荆花文化旅游节）, Yufeng Singing Festival（鱼峰歌圩）, March 3 celebrations, and ethnic village visits.

A recommended three-day route:

Day 1: Liuzhou city cultural tour including Liuhou Park, Industrial Museum, bauhinia flower areas, and Yufeng Mountain.

Day 2: Visit Luzhai Zhongdu Ancient Town and Xiangqiao Karst Geological Park.

Day 3: Experience Miao or Dong ethnic village culture.

Suitable for cultural research groups, photographers, students, and international visitors.

Summer (June–August) | Ancient Town Festivals and Mountain Culture Season

Summer is hot and humid with frequent afternoon rainstorms. Outdoor activities should be arranged in the morning or evening.

Main events include:

Zhongdu City God Temple Fair（中渡“五月二十八”城隍庙会）,
Baipeng Lotus Festival（百朋荷花节）,
Liuzhou Luosifen Food Festival（柳州螺蛳粉美食节）.

A recommended four-day route:

Day 1: Liuzhou city, Luosifen cultural experience, and Liujiang night cruise.

Day 2: Liucheng Mulam villages and countryside culture.

Day 3: Zhongdu Ancient Town.

Day 4: Rong’an river scenery and ecological tourism.

Autumn (September–November) | Best Festival Tourism Season

Autumn is the best overall season for Liuzhou festival travel. The weather is comfortable, rainfall decreases, and ethnic villages are especially beautiful.

Major events include:

Rongshui Lusheng Horse Fighting Festival（融水芦笙斗马节）,
Rong’an Kumquat Cultural Tourism Festival（融安金桔文化旅游节）,
Liucheng Mandarin Orange Cultural Tourism Festival（柳城蜜桔文化旅游节）,
Mulam Yifan Festival（仫佬族依饭节）.

Recommended five-day cultural route:

Day 1: Liuzhou city historical and industrial culture.

Day 2: Luzhai Zhongdu Ancient Town.

Day 3: Rongshui Miao villages.

Day 4: Sanjiang Dong villages and Dong Grand Songs.

Day 5: Rong’an agricultural and river culture experience.

Winter (December–February) | Miao Festival Highlight Season

Winter is the most distinctive period for experiencing Rongshui Miao culture. The famous Miao slope festivals take place during the Lunar New Year period.

Recommended route:

Day 1: Rongshui Miao villages, Lusheng performances, and traditional competitions.

Day 2: Sanjiang Chengyang Eight Villages and Dong Spring Festival customs.

Visitors should prepare warm clothing because mountain villages are colder than urban areas.

Festival Travel Tips in Liuzhou

Respect Local Customs

When visiting ethnic villages, visitors should respect local traditions. During ceremonies and religious activities, keep quiet, avoid touching ritual objects, and ask permission before photographing residents.

Transportation Advice

Many Miao and Dong villages are located in mountainous areas. Roads are winding and morning fog may appear during winter and spring. Large groups should arrange professional transportation and avoid nighttime mountain driving.

Cultural Experience Services

Yaso Trip can arrange bilingual cultural guides, ethnic handicraft workshops, traditional banquets, village visits, and customized cultural research programs.

Shopping Advice

Festival markets offer embroidery, tea, handicrafts, and agricultural products. Expensive silver jewelry and tea products should be purchased from reliable shops or official workshops.

Liuzhou Festival Calendar Overview