Hangzhou Festivals And Activities

Hangzhou (杭州) has a rich festival calendar shaped by seasonal flowers, tea culture, Buddhist and folk traditions, agricultural harvests, ethnic-minority customs and modern international exhibitions. Spring revolves around plum blossoms, tulips, flower fairs and the West Lake Longjing tea harvest; summer brings dragon boats, animation, outdoor sports and waterside activities; autumn is the season for Qiantang River tides, osmanthus, persimmons, hickories and cultural fairs; winter concludes the year with lantern displays, temple fairs, reed-viewing activities and New Year blessing ceremonies.

Unlike destinations centred on one large annual carnival, Hangzhou offers clusters of events in different districts and counties. Xihu District (西湖区) is the centre of flower, tea and wetland festivals; Gongshu District (拱墅区) focuses on Grand Canal culture and community traditions; Xiaoshan District (萧山区) hosts major exhibitions and tide-watching activities; Yuhang District (余杭区) is associated with Jingshan tea and Liangzhu culture; Tonglu County (桐庐县) preserves distinctive She ethnic traditions; while Chun’an (淳安) and Jiande (建德) offer outdoor and water-themed events.

Event dates are not always fixed. Lunar festivals shift annually, flowering and harvest periods depend on weather, and many autumn and winter programmes are announced only several weeks before opening. The dates below therefore combine established seasonal periods with the latest verified editions available as of August 2026.

Spring Festivals: Flowers, Tea and Traditional Culture

Chaoshan Plum Blossom Season

The year’s flower calendar usually begins at Chaoshan Scenic Area (超山风景区) in Linping District. The Chaoshan Plum Blossom Season generally starts in January and reaches its best viewing period between February and early March. The eighteenth edition opened on January 18, 2026, combining plum viewing with cultural performances, markets and activities connected with the artist Wu Changshuo.

Chaoshan is famous for its extensive plum groves and varieties associated with different historical periods. Weekends around the peak flowering season can be extremely busy, and temporary traffic controls may be introduced around the scenic area.

Xixi Plum Blossom Festival

Plum blossoms grow beside the waterways of Xixi National Wetland Park (西溪国家湿地公园), creating a very different experience from conventional garden viewing. Visitors can walk through the plum groves or take a traditional rowing boat through narrow waterways framed by blossoms.

The wetland regularly includes plum viewing among its seasonal cultural programmes, followed later in the year by the Flower Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Fire Persimmon Festival, Reed Festival and Dry-Pond Fishing Festival.

Taiziwan Tulip Exhibition

The Taiziwan Tulip Exhibition (太子湾郁金香花展) is one of Hangzhou’s most popular spring events. The 2026 exhibition ran from March 6 to April 12 and featured approximately 400,000 tulips and other flowering plants.

During the exhibition, timed reservations and visitor-capacity controls may be introduced. Weekend parking around the West Lake scenic area is limited, so metro, public bus, dedicated shuttle bus or water-bus services are preferable to private cars.

Xixi Flower Festival

The Xixi Flower Festival (西溪花朝节) is Hangzhou’s signature spring flower event. Inspired by the traditional celebration of the “birthday of flowers,” it combines floral landscapes with Hanfu processions, representations of the Twelve Flower Deities, folk performances, handicrafts and seasonal markets.

The 2026 festival opened on March 29 and continued until May 10, displaying 105 flower species and nearly 80,000 plants around Green Dyke, Zhoujia Village, Yanshui Fishing Village and other wetland areas. Weekend flower-float processions and traditional cultural presentations formed part of the programme.

West Lake Longjing Spring Tea Season

The spring tea harvest is one of Hangzhou’s most culturally significant seasonal events. Activities are concentrated around Longjing Village (龙井村), Meijiawu Village (梅家坞), Longwu Tea Town (龙坞茶镇) and other West Lake tea-growing areas.

The West Lake Longjing harvest normally begins in March, depending on temperature and leaf development. Tea-season programmes can include picking demonstrations, hand-roasting experiences, tea tastings, rural markets and guided walks through tea gardens. The official 2025 harvest began on March 20, accompanied by a series of spring tea activities.

Visitors should not enter private tea fields without permission. A prearranged tea-family visit or organised tea tour provides a more authentic and responsible experience than approaching growers during their busiest harvesting period.

Jingshan Spring Tea Season

Jingshan Mountain (径山) in Yuhang District is closely associated with Buddhist tea culture and the historical development of tea ceremonies. Its spring programme usually features tea-picking experiences, tea-making demonstrations, tea competitions, cultural markets and performances inspired by the Jingshan tea banquet tradition.

The 2025 Jingshan Spring Tea Season opened on March 31 and included more than 20 related activities.

Eshan She “March Third” Festival

The most important ethnic-minority festival in Hangzhou is held in Eshan She Ethnic Township (莪山畲族乡) in Tonglu County. Eshan is Hangzhou’s only officially designated ethnic township and is an important centre of She cultural tourism.

The She March Third Festival (畲族三月三) follows the lunar calendar and usually falls in March or April. Celebrations may include She songs, bamboo-pole dancing, traditional clothing, wedding-custom performances, coloured ribbon weaving, martial arts, red-rice-wine ceremonies, long-table banquets and local food markets. The 2026 programme was organised as a cultural week beginning in April.

Banshan Beginning-of-Summer Festival

The Banshan Lixia Festival (半山立夏节) in Gongshu District celebrates the traditional beginning of summer. Its customs are connected with seasonal food, weighing children, egg games, folk performances and community gatherings.

The fifteenth Banshan Lixia Festival was held on May 5, 2026, at Grand Canal Hanggang Park, continuing a local tradition that has developed into an urban folk-cultural event.

Tangqi Loquat Festival

Tangqi Ancient Town (塘栖古镇) in Linping District is famous for its loquats. The picking period generally begins in early or mid-May and continues into early June, with the best dates depending on the year’s weather.

The seasonal programme normally includes orchard visits, fruit markets, local food and countryside experiences. In 2025, the principal harvest began around May 10.

Summer Festivals: Dragon Boats, Exhibitions and Outdoor Activities

China International Tea Expo

The China International Tea Expo (中国国际茶叶博览会) is one of Hangzhou’s most important agricultural and cultural exhibitions. It brings together tea producers, regional tea brands, equipment suppliers, teaware designers, buyers and tea enthusiasts.

The eighth expo was held from May 21 to 25, 2026, using two venues for the first time: Hangzhou International Expo Center in Xiaoshan and the Hangzhou Tea Expo Conference and Exhibition Center in Longwu. The event combined professional trade activities with tea tasting, retail, cultural demonstrations and public experiences.

China International Cartoon and Animation Festival

The China International Cartoon and Animation Festival (中国国际动漫节) is a major modern cultural event featuring animation, comics, games, cosplay, digital entertainment, exhibitions and industry forums.

Recent editions have generally been held in late May or early June, with the main exhibition activities based in Hangzhou. The 2025 festival ran from May 29 to June 2 and included more than 200 activities with participants from dozens of countries and regions.

Admission arrangements vary by venue. Popular cosplay days, stage events and limited-edition product launches may require advance tickets.

Xixi Dragon Boat Culture Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the most exciting times to visit Xixi Wetland. The local tradition is characterised not only by competitive racing but also by elaborately decorated boats, ceremonial gatherings and the distinctive boat culture of Jiangcun (蒋村).

The 2025 Xixi Dragon Boat Culture Festival was held on May 31 and included an international race and traditional Jiangcun dragon-boat activities around Shentankou. More than 300 boats participated in the wider celebration.

The lunar Dragon Boat Festival occurs on a different Gregorian date each year. Visitors should distinguish between the organised international race and the traditional local boat gathering, as starting times and viewing locations may differ.

Qiandao Lake Outdoor Sports Events

Qiandao Lake (千岛湖) is an important base for cycling, hiking, water sports, swimming, trail running and other outdoor events. The National Landscape Outdoor Sports Conference held at Qiandao Lake from May 23 to 25, 2025, combined several sporting and tourism activities.

Individual cycling races, swimming events and outdoor festivals do not always follow the same annual schedule. Travellers should check whether road restrictions, athlete registration or spectator zones apply.

Jiande 17°C Xin’an River Summer Winter-Swimming Event

Jiande’s Xin’an River (新安江) remains exceptionally cool during summer because of water released from the Xin’anjiang Reservoir. This climatic characteristic is celebrated through the 17°C Xin’an River Summer Winter-Swimming Event (17℃新安江夏日冬泳).

The 2025 edition continued a swimming tradition first organised in 1988 and brought swimmers to the river during the hottest period of summer.

Swimming should take place only within organised courses or officially designated areas. The river has strong currents and low water temperatures even during hot weather.

West Lake Lotus-Viewing Season

Lotus flowers around Quyuan Fenghe (曲院风荷), Beishan Street, Gushan Island and other West Lake waters generally bloom from June through August. Some older travel guides call this period the “West Lake Lotus Festival,” but it is safer to regard it as a seasonal flower-viewing period unless the scenic-area authority announces a named festival for that particular year.

Early morning provides cooler temperatures, softer light and fewer visitors. Lotus flowering conditions vary with rainfall and summer temperatures.

Autumn Festivals: Tides, Osmanthus and Harvest Celebrations

Qiantang River Tide-Watching Season

The Qiantang River tidal bore is Hangzhou’s most dramatic natural seasonal event. The strongest autumn tides are traditionally associated with the eighteenth day of the eighth lunar month, although impressive tidal bores may occur on other days before and after the peak period.

Popular Hangzhou viewing areas include designated sections of the riverfront in Xiaoshan, Qiantang and the southern West Lake area. Beauty Dam (美女坝) in Xiaoshan is known for its turning or colliding tide, while other viewing points produce different tidal forms.

Tide times change daily and forecasts can be affected by water flow, wind and weather. Visitors must use official forecasts, remain inside designated viewing areas and never descend onto riverbanks or tidal flats. Hangzhou’s tide-watching regulations require safety controls and education at organised events.

Xixi Fire Persimmon Festival

The Xixi Fire Persimmon Festival (西溪火柿节) celebrates the wetland’s autumn harvest. Orange-red persimmons reflected in waterways create one of Xixi’s characteristic seasonal landscapes.

The 2025 festival ran from September 20 to October 8 and included themed cultural and visitor activities. The wetland contains thousands of persimmon trees, although fruit picking is permitted only through authorised festival programmes.

Manjuelong Osmanthus Season

Osmanthus normally perfumes Hangzhou from September into October, although warm weather can delay flowering. Manjuelong Village (满觉陇村) and the traditional West Lake scene known as “Sweet Osmanthus Rain at Manjuelong” are the best-known destinations.

Seasonal programmes may include osmanthus markets, tea gatherings, handicrafts, food made with osmanthus and Mid-Autumn moon-viewing activities. In 2025, the Manjuelong programme extended from mid-September into November because of the wider seasonal schedule.

Lin’an Hickory Harvest Season

Lin’an District (临安区) is an important hickory-producing area. Harvest traditionally begins around White Dew, one of the Chinese solar terms in early September.

The 2025 harvest was officially scheduled to begin on September 7. Local activities may include nut markets, agricultural demonstrations, village programmes and farm-product fairs, but they do not necessarily operate under one fixed citywide festival name every year.

Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Expo

The Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Expo (杭州文化创意产业博览会) brings together design, crafts, digital culture, museum products, lifestyle brands and international creative industries.

The nineteenth edition was held from October 17 to 20, 2025, with its main venue at White Horse Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center (白马湖国际会展中心) in Binjiang District.

Liangzhu Forum

The Liangzhu Forum (良渚论坛) is an international cultural dialogue connected with heritage, archaeology, literature, art and exchanges between civilisations. It is based around Liangzhu in Yuhang District.

The third Liangzhu Forum was held from October 18 to 20, 2025. It should be treated as a high-level cultural forum rather than a fixed-date public folk festival; public participation and venue access depend on that year’s programme.

Qiandao Lake Creative Life Week

The Qiandao Lake Creative Life Week (千岛湖创意生活周) combines local products, design, culture, tourism, markets and lifestyle experiences. The third edition opened on October 23, 2025 and operated as a subvenue programme connected with Hangzhou’s cultural and creative expo.

China Grand Canal Temple Fair

The China Grand Canal Temple Fair (中国大运河庙会) transforms neighbourhoods along the Hangzhou section of the Grand Canal into spaces for folk performances, traditional crafts, food, markets and community activities.

The twelfth edition took place from November 13 to 16, 2025, with activities distributed across six canal-side neighbourhoods rather than one enclosed venue.

Hangzhou Chrysanthemum Art Exhibition

Chrysanthemum exhibitions are traditionally organised in late autumn. Recent Grand Canal Temple Fair programmes have incorporated the Hangzhou Chrysanthemum Art Exhibition and the Yangtze River Delta Chrysanthemum Art Festival in Gongshu District. Venues and exhibition dates may change from year to year.

Winter Festivals: Lanterns, Temple Fairs and New-Year Traditions

Xixi Reed-Viewing Festival

From November into winter, the reed beds around Xixi Wetland become an important seasonal attraction. The Xixi Reed Festival or Reed-Listening Season (西溪听芦节) normally focuses on the waterways and reed landscapes around Qiuxue Nunnery and nearby wetland zones.

Activities may include rowing-boat visits, poetry, traditional performance and ecological interpretation. Exact dates depend on the maturity of the reeds and the annual programme.

Xixi Dry-Pond Fishing Festival

The Xixi Dry-Pond Fishing Festival (西溪干塘节) reflects the wetland’s traditional fishery culture. Water is partially drained from selected ponds, and organised activities may demonstrate fishing, wetland food customs and rural production traditions.

It is normally arranged in winter, but locations, participation arrangements and dates are announced separately each year.

Wushan New Year Temple Fair

Wushan Square (吴山广场) and the surrounding Qinghefang historical area host New Year markets and folk-cultural programmes. The modern Wushan Temple Fair (吴山庙会) may include seasonal products, traditional snacks, handicrafts, performances and displays linked to Hangzhou’s old-city culture.

The 2025 New Year programme included a Wushan Temple Fair New Year Shopping Festival.

Hangzhou Lantern Festival Activities

Lantern Festival celebrations take place across multiple districts rather than at a single permanent venue. Programmes may include lantern installations, riddle games, parades, intangible-cultural-heritage performances and neighbourhood markets.

The 2026 citywide programme included displays and activities around Xixi, the Wulin–Grand Canal corridor, Yuhang, Tonglu and other districts.

New Year Bell-Ringing Ceremonies

New Year’s Eve blessing and bell-ringing events are periodically organised at historic Buddhist or scenic sites. A recent verified event was held at Liuhe Pagoda (六和塔) on December 31, 2024, followed by New Year blessing activities on January 1.

Older travel articles frequently identify Jingci Temple and the “Evening Bell Ringing at Nanping Hill” as a fixed annual event. Travellers should confirm the actual venue and ticketing arrangements for the intended year rather than assuming that one temple always hosts the public ceremony.

Ethnic-Minority Festivals and Multicultural Activities

She Culture in Tonglu and Lin’an

Eshan She Ethnic Township is the principal destination for a dedicated ethnic-festival tour. Its March Third celebration offers the most concentrated opportunity to experience She music, costume, food, wine customs, handicrafts and village life. Eshan also promotes year-round experiences such as bamboo-pole dancing, long-table banquets, coloured-ribbon weaving and She-themed rural tourism.

She communities in Lin’an also organise March Third celebrations and cultural performances, although these may be smaller and do not necessarily follow a fixed annual tourism schedule. Visitors specifically interested in minority culture should prioritise Eshan and confirm the programme before travelling.

Manchu Banjin Festival

The Banjin Festival (颁金节) commemorates the naming of the Manchu people and is celebrated by Manchu communities on the thirteenth day of the tenth lunar month.

Tianshui Subdistrict (天水街道) in Gongshu District has organised community Banjin Festival activities for many years. The nineteenth local celebration was held in November 2024 and featured traditional clothing, performances, opera, community exchanges and food.

This remains primarily a community cultural event rather than a large commercial tourist festival. Public access and programme details should be checked with the local organiser.

Multicultural Community Celebrations

Community centres in Gongshu and other urban districts periodically organise Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Spring Festival activities involving residents from the Tujia, Miao, She, Korean, Manchu and other ethnic groups. Activities can include rice dumpling making, black-rice food, song, dance, clothing and shared regional cuisine.

These programmes are valuable for community exchange but are often announced locally and may not be designed as public tourism events. They should therefore supplement, rather than form the foundation of, an international visitor’s itinerary.

Major Festival Areas across Hangzhou

West Lake and Xihu District

This is the most event-rich part of Hangzhou, covering the Taiziwan Tulip Exhibition, Longjing spring tea season, Manjuelong osmanthus activities, Xixi Flower Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Fire Persimmon Festival, Reed Festival and Dry-Pond Fishing Festival. Visitors can combine several events without long-distance transfers when their dates overlap.

Shangcheng District

Shangcheng’s festival identity centres on Hangzhou’s historic commercial streets, Wushan Square, Qinghefang, Southern Song culture and city-centre New Year activities. Wushan temple fairs and seasonal markets are the most accessible events for visitors staying beside West Lake.

Gongshu District

Gongshu is the main area for Grand Canal festival culture. The Banshan Lixia Festival, China Grand Canal Temple Fair, chrysanthemum exhibitions and Manchu Banjin community celebrations represent a combination of canal heritage, seasonal customs and multicultural urban life.

Binjiang District

Binjiang is associated with contemporary cultural industries and large exhibitions, particularly the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival and the Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Expo at White Horse Lake.

Xiaoshan District

Xiaoshan hosts the China International Tea Expo at Hangzhou International Expo Center and provides several Qiantang River tide-viewing areas, including Beauty Dam. It is also a convenient base for exhibition, business and festival groups arriving through Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport.

Yuhang District

Yuhang combines Jingshan tea culture with Liangzhu archaeological and civilisational themes. Spring tea programmes, Liangzhu cultural activities and international forums make it suitable for educational and cultural groups.

Linping District

Linping’s seasonal highlights are Chaoshan plum blossoms and Tangqi loquats. The two events provide contrasting early-spring flower and late-spring agricultural experiences.

Qiantang District

Qiantang District is closely associated with the Qiantang River, riverfront activities and tide watching. Cultural programmes such as Qixi events may also be organised at urban venues, but the host location can change each year.

Fuyang District

Fuyang’s events are generally connected with the Fuchun River, ancient villages, local food and seasonal tourism. Longmen Ancient Town (龙门古镇) may stage folk performances and holiday programmes, but many are event-specific rather than fixed annual festivals.

Lin’an District

Lin’an is suitable for autumn agricultural travel, especially the hickory harvest, and for smaller She cultural activities. Mountain and village events are dispersed, making private transport useful.

Tonglu County

Tonglu offers the strongest minority-festival experience through Eshan She Ethnic Township. It can be combined with Fuchun River scenery, rural accommodation, handicraft workshops and neighbouring mountain activities.

Chun’an County

Chun’an’s festival calendar focuses on Qiandao Lake, outdoor sports, creative-lifestyle events and the Qiandao Lake Marathon. The 2025 marathon used Xiushui Square as an important event area.

Jiande City

Jiande’s most distinctive summer event is the 17°C Xin’an River swimming programme. Holiday folk activities may also be held in Meicheng Ancient Town, but dates and themes vary annually.

Festival Tours with Yaso Trip

3-Day Hangzhou Spring Flowers and Tea Tour

Day 1: West Lake, Taiziwan Tulip Exhibition and Manjuelong or Longjing Village
Day 2: Xixi Flower Festival, rowing-boat experience and wetland culture
Day 3: Jingshan Mountain tea culture or Chaoshan plum blossoms, depending on the flowering period

This programme is best from mid-March to April. The exact combination should be determined by the flower forecast and spring tea harvest.

3-Day Dragon Boat and Cultural Festival Tour

Day 1: West Lake and Hangzhou old city
Day 2: Xixi Dragon Boat Culture Festival and Jiangcun traditional boat gathering
Day 3: Grand Canal heritage or China International Cartoon and Animation Festival

The programme must be built around the lunar Dragon Boat Festival. Staying near Xixi the previous night helps guests reach the main viewing area before crowds arrive.

4-Day Hangzhou Tea Festival Tour

Day 1: West Lake Longjing tea gardens and hand-roasting experience
Day 2: China International Tea Expo
Day 3: Jingshan tea culture and Buddhist tea-banquet experience
Day 4: Tea museum, Longwu Tea Town and tea shopping

This tour is suitable for tea professionals, importers, cultural groups and general visitors. Expo registration and trade appointments should be arranged in advance.

4-Day Autumn Tide and Harvest Festival Tour

Day 1: Qiantang River tide watching in an official viewing zone
Day 2: Manjuelong osmanthus season and West Lake
Day 3: Xixi Fire Persimmon Festival
Day 4: Grand Canal Temple Fair or Lin’an hickory countryside

The tide-watching date must be selected according to the official daily forecast rather than using a fixed approximate time.

3-Day She Ethnic Culture Tour

Day 1: Hangzhou to Tonglu and Eshan She Ethnic Township
Day 2: March Third celebrations, costume, song, dance, coloured-ribbon weaving and a long-table banquet
Day 3: Tonglu countryside, Fuchun River or an ethnic-culture study programme

This tour works best during the March Third Cultural Week, but Eshan can also provide prearranged cultural experiences outside the festival period.

Practical Festival Travel Tips

Verify Dates before Booking

Flower festivals may shift with blooming conditions, tea harvests depend on temperature, and lunar festivals move each year. Large exhibitions usually publish firm dates earlier, while community events and autumn harvest festivals may be confirmed only shortly before opening.

Reserve Popular Events Early

Taiziwan, major exhibitions, animation events and selected cultural performances may require advance reservations or tickets. Hotels near Xixi, West Lake and exhibition venues can sell out quickly during major weekends.

Use Public Transport in Central Hangzhou

West Lake, Taiziwan, Xixi, the Grand Canal and central exhibition areas can experience heavy traffic. Metro, public bus, official shuttle and walking are usually more efficient than private cars.

Use Private Transport for County Festivals

Eshan, Jingshan, Lin’an’s agricultural areas, Qiandao Lake and Jiande are spread across greater Hangzhou. A private vehicle or chartered coach is more practical for international groups, families and festival tours combining several rural locations.

Follow Safety Controls at Tide-Watching Events

The Qiantang tidal bore can rise rapidly and move with exceptional force. Visitors must remain behind barriers, follow police instructions and never enter closed riverbanks, groynes or tidal flats.

Do Not Plan around the Former West Lake Fireworks Festival

The West Lake International Fireworks Festival (西湖国际烟花大会) appears in many older travel guides, but it is not a current annual Hangzhou attraction. Verifiable large editions date back to 2012, while the present West Lake Scenic Area is subject to comprehensive fireworks restrictions. It should therefore be removed from modern festival itineraries.

Complete Hangzhou Festival and Event Calendar