Haixi Festivals And Activities

The festivals of Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (海西蒙古族藏族自治州) have a unique atmosphere shaped by vast grasslands, Gobi deserts, salt lakes, snow mountains, and the diverse ethnic traditions of the Qinghai Plateau. Beyond its famous landscapes of Chaka Salt Lake, Qarhan Salt Lake, Water Yardang, and Kunlun Mountains, Haixi offers visitors a rich cultural experience through Mongolian, Tibetan, Tu, and other ethnic festivals.

The annual festival calendar of Haixi features a distinctive pattern of “summer grassland celebrations and winter-spring folk traditions.” In summer, when the grasslands are green and the weather is pleasant, large-scale events such as Naadam Festivals (那达慕) and the Qaidam Cultural Tourism Festival (柴达木文化旅游节) bring together ethnic sports, traditional performances, tourism exhibitions, and cultural experiences. In winter and spring, local communities celebrate traditional customs through temple activities, fire rituals, New Year celebrations, folk performances, and ice-snow tourism events.

For international visitors, joining Haixi’s festivals is not only a way to experience Mongolian and Tibetan culture but also an opportunity to explore the relationship between people, nature, and the plateau environment.

Summer Festivals: Grassland Celebrations and Cultural Showcases

Naadam Festival: The Grand Grassland Celebration

The Naadam Festival (那达慕大会) is the most representative ethnic festival in Haixi and an important cultural symbol of Mongolian communities. The word “Naadam” means “entertainment” or “games” in Mongolian. In 2008, the Haixi Mongolian Naadam Festival (海西蒙古族那达慕) was included in the second batch of China’s national intangible cultural heritage list.

Held mainly between July and August, Naadam festivals rotate among different areas of Haixi, including Delingha City (德令哈市), Golmud City (格尔木市), Wulan County (乌兰县), Dulan County (都兰县), Dachaidan Administrative Committee (大柴旦行委), and MangAi City (茫崖市).

The highlight of Naadam is the traditional Mongolian “Three Manly Games,” including horse racing, Mongolian wrestling (Bökh), and archery. In some areas, visitors can also watch camel racing, Mongolian singing, traditional dances, ethnic costumes, and grassland banquets. The festival provides an excellent opportunity to experience the nomadic culture of the Qinghai Mongolian communities.

Qaidam Cultural Tourism Festival: A Showcase of “Panoramic Haixi”

The Qaidam Cultural Tourism Festival (柴达木文化旅游节) is one of Haixi’s largest comprehensive cultural tourism events. Usually held in summer, the festival focuses on the theme of “Beautiful Qinghai · Panoramic Haixi” and integrates tourism promotion, cultural performances, intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, agricultural product fairs, and creative markets.

Activities often include cultural parades, opening ceremonies, concerts, photography exhibitions, handicraft displays, and tourism experience programs. Through the festival, visitors can discover Haixi’s diverse landscapes, from salt lakes and deserts to snow mountains and grasslands, while experiencing local handicrafts, specialty foods, and ethnic traditions.

Film and Cultural Tourism Experience: “Tree of Life” Tourism Trend

In recent years, film and television tourism has become a new attraction in Haixi. The filming location of the TV series “Tree of Life (生命树)” in Keluke Town (柯鲁柯镇), Delingha City, has developed into an immersive cultural tourism destination.

Visitors can explore restored filming scenes, experience retro-style photography, and combine sightseeing with storytelling. This new tourism model has helped transform local cultural resources into interactive travel experiences.

Winter and Spring Festivals: Folk Traditions and Plateau New Year Culture

Although Haixi is best known for summer tourism, the winter and spring season also offers unique cultural experiences. From December to March, cities and counties across Haixi organize a series of cultural and tourism activities combining traditional customs, winter sports, and local celebrations.

Traditional New Year Customs and Folk Performances

During the Lunar New Year and Tibetan New Year periods, Haixi communities hold various folk activities, including:

• Spring Festival celebrations, lantern festivals, and riddle activities.
• Folk performances such as traditional dances, community gatherings, and cultural shows.
• Intangible cultural heritage exhibitions featuring traditional crafts and local customs.
• Tibetan and Mongolian New Year celebrations.

In places such as Golmud City (格尔木市), village celebrations often demonstrate the multicultural characteristics of the region, where Tibetan, Mongolian, Tu, Hui, and Han communities participate together in performances, creating a lively atmosphere of ethnic unity.

Mongolian Fire Worship Ceremony

The Mongolian Traditional Fire Worship Ceremony (蒙古族传统祭火) is an important winter folk custom among Mongolian communities in Haixi.

Usually held around the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the ceremony expresses respect for fire, nature, and ancestors. Local people pray for good fortune, healthy livestock, and a prosperous year through traditional rituals, songs, and gatherings.

Winter Ice and Snow Tourism Activities

Haixi has developed various winter tourism programs combining natural landscapes with outdoor experiences. Activities include:

• Golmud Ice and Snow Festival (格尔木冰雪主题欢乐季) featuring winter entertainment and outdoor activities.
• Hala Lake Ice and Snow Experience (哈拉湖冰雪体验) in Tianjun County (天峻县), offering snow scenery, adventure routes, and plateau exploration.
• Winter photography tours featuring frozen lakes, snowy mountains, and desert landscapes.

These activities allow visitors to experience a different side of Haixi, where the normally vast and dry plateau becomes a quiet winter wonderland.

Festival Travel Guide for Haixi

Best Time to Experience Festivals

The best period for cultural festival tourism in Haixi is generally July to September, when major events such as Naadam and the Qaidam Cultural Tourism Festival are usually held. During this period, grasslands are green, temperatures are comfortable, and outdoor activities are easier.

Winter festivals from December to March are suitable for travelers interested in folk traditions, photography, and snow landscapes.

Recommended Festival Travel Routes

For first-time visitors, a cultural and scenic route combining festivals and landscapes can include:

Xining → Chaka Salt Lake → Wulan → Delingha → Dachaidan → MangAi City → Golmud

This route connects major natural attractions with local cultural experiences, allowing travelers to enjoy salt lakes, Gobi scenery, ethnic festivals, and plateau lifestyles.

For visitors focusing on ethnic culture, recommended experiences include:

• Delingha City (德令哈市): Naadam Festival, Qaidam Cultural Tourism Festival, Haizi Poetry Culture, Mongolian traditions.
• Golmud City (格尔木市): Grassland festivals, folk performances, winter activities, Kunlun culture.
• Dulan County (都兰县): Mongolian cultural activities and archaeological heritage.
• Wulan County (乌兰县): Mongolian fire worship and grassland customs.
• MangAi City (茫崖市): Desert, Gobi, and frontier cultural experiences.

Festival periods are also peak travel seasons. Visitors should reserve hotels and transportation in advance, especially during large events such as Naadam and Qaidam Cultural Tourism Festival.

Festival Tours with Yaso Trip: Haixi Cultural Experiences

Yaso Trip can design customized Haixi festival tours combining ethnic celebrations, natural landscapes, and cultural exploration. Travelers can experience Mongolian Naadam, explore salt lake wonders, visit Gobi geological landscapes, enjoy local cuisine, and interact with communities through carefully designed private tours.

Possible experiences include:

• Haixi Naadam Cultural Tour: Experience Mongolian horse racing, wrestling, archery, and grassland culture.
• Qaidam Festival & Landscape Tour: Combine the Qaidam Cultural Tourism Festival with Chaka Salt Lake, Emerald Lakes, and Yardang landscapes.
• Winter Haixi Folk Culture Tour: Explore New Year traditions, fire worship ceremonies, frozen lakes, and plateau winter scenery.

Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Major Festival Activities Table

Travel Note: Festival dates and locations may change annually. Before traveling, visitors are advised to check the latest announcements from the Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau and reserve accommodation early during major festival periods.