Chinese New Year & Spring Festival
This is the most important in the traditional Chinese holidays and an auspicious time for the Chinese people.
Shanghai
Festivals and Annual Events
This event occurs annually and the time is not fixed as it is planned on the basis of the lunar calendar. This is the most important in the traditional Chinese holidays and an auspicious time for the Chinese people. Loved ones are visited and special food is cooked and eaten. Red is the predominant color as is evident from the red lanterns seen hanging everywhere. Door frames are also painted red and gold. This is said to ward off evil spirits. Children are given gift money wrapped in red envelopes. Fireworks displays all over the city are a regular feature of the festivities. Merrymaking in the form of dancing also takes place, the most popular being the lion and the dragon dance. Celebrations are most intense at Longhua temple which is a scene of frenzied activity and vibrancy.
Showing 1–13 of 13 festivals
City guide section
Festivals and events in Shanghai
Showing 1–13 of 13 festivals
Plan around 13 festival seasons, public events, Ramadan/Eid periods, book fairs, art cycles, and winter food activity.
Lantern Festival
Fifteen days after the Chinese New Year, on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month the lantern festival is celebrated.
Tomb Sweeping Day
This is an important event that occurs annually. It is a time for people to pay their respects to their ancestors who have passed away. Their graves are visited and washed clean.
Temple Fair
The famous Longhua Pagoda situated in grounds of the Longhua Park is the venue for this annual event. The ancient temple ground is surrounded by beautiful peach blossoms.
Shanghai International Tea Culture Festival
China is renowned for tea thought to be excellent not just to satisfy one's thirst but as a cure for a number of diseases.
Dragon Boat Festival
This annual festival honors and celebrates the Chinese hero Qu Yuan who stood up against the emperor and drowned himself to protest the corruption of the Chinese royals.
Shanghai Beer Festival
Whilst locals flock to this festival it is mostly a large number of expats who love to visit the Bund at this time of the year to enjoy cheap beer.
Shanghai International Ballet Competition
It showcases works by international choreographers, classical ballets and newer works using classical technique and Chinese folk dance to tell Chinese folk stories.
SH Contemporary
This four day long festival held every September is anxiously awaited for by Shanghai's art lovers and enthusiasts. The venue is the Shanghai Exhibition Center.
Mid Autumn Festival
This 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.
Shanghai Tourism Festival
This three week long festival takes place annually across the city of Shanghai. One highlight of this festival is the shopping festival which also takes place during this time.
Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai
This week-long event takes place annually, usually in the month of October. The venue is the Qi Zhong stadium. Tennis greats come here to fight it out. Roger Federer has won a number of trophies here.
International Art Festival
It lasts one whole month and includes a number of performances centered on dance, song, orchestras, opera, magic shows and other theatrical performances.
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