Festivals and Annual Events

January - February: This annual event is held in Longqing Gorge in Yanqing county 80kms North of Beijing. Excited and enthusiastic locals take part in the festivities surrounding this festival which features fireworks, the making of beautiful ice sculptures and ice fishing. Massive blocks of ice are sculptured into animals and figures of various shapes and sizes. Lanterns made of ice with light glowing within are displayed creating a fairy tale ambience.

On the fifteenth day after the spring festival, i.e. the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the lantern festival which celebrates the warmth of the sun after the cold winters. Colorful lanterns of all sizes and shapes are sold in the markets. The bright colors represent joy and festivity. Decoration of houses and streets, offerings and prayers to the deity and lavish feasting are an important part of this festival. The residents of Beijing walk the streets with beautiful lamps. The streets well lit up provide a stunning view. Dancing and music are also part of the festivities. The dragon dance and the lion dance are most popular. People with painted faces roaming the street are a common sight during this festival.

The Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first day of the first lunar month of the year and is an important festival for the people of Beijing. This event occurs annually and the time is not fixed as it is planned on the basis of the lunar calendar. Loved ones are visited and special traditional food is cooked and eaten. Children are given gift money by the elders. Vibrant celebrations which are held across the city carry on for a week. Fireworks displays are held across the city.

This festival celebrated on the 19th day of the second lunar month, honors Guan Yin, one of the most popular deities in China, revered by Buddhists and Taoists alike. She is seen as an embodiment of the virtues of kindness and compassion and is worshipped by merchants, farmers, sailors and women seeking to bear children. Devotees flock to temples and shrines and make offerings of fruit and vegetables. Traditionally vegetarian noodles are eaten on this day.

Qingming Festival, or Tomb Sweeping Day is an important event that occurs annually on either April 4th of 5th of the Gregorian calendar. It is a time for people to pay their respects to their ancestors who have passed away. Their graves are visited and washed clean. Some indulge in burning ghost money thought to be needed by their dead loved ones in the afterlife.

5th day of the 5th month of the traditional lunar calendar: This annual festival honors and celebrates Chinese hero Qu Yuan who stood up against the emperor and drowned himself to protest the corruption of the Chinese royals. Dragon boat races take place whilst people eat delicacies like rice enveloped by bamboo leaves.

Mid Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar during a full moon, which usually falls between mid Sept and early October. This festival is also known as the moon festival and is an annual event. It is a time for people to get together with their friends and families and enjoy their company whilst munching on delicious moon cakes. These moon cakes have a variety of fillings such as egg, beef, red beans, lotus paste, and more.

Confucius was the famous Chinese philosopher, thinker, teacher and scholar. His birthday is celebrated on the 27th day of the eighth moon. Confucius’ ideology and beliefs were lost during the early years of communism but are once more finding acceptance in today’s world.

September: Chinese as well as international artists participate in this festival which spans 3 days of outdoor performances. This musical extravaganza features a wide variety of music forms from standard Jazz, Swing and Cool Jazz to modern Jazz styles such as Fusion, Latino, Flamenco and Funk.