Every weekend in China, in towns from Shenzhen to Xi'an, temple fairs draw thousands of people for a unique combination of religious observance, street food, folk performances, and commerce. These gat
When a dragon stretches 100 meters through a Beijing alley or a lion springs from a crouch to snatch a lettuce at a Guangzhou door, something ancient and electric moves through the crowd. Dragon and l
On the seventh evening of the seventh lunar month, Chinese gaze upward to see two stars—the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl—meeting across the Milky Way. The Qixi Festival, rooted in a Han dynasty legend
When a dragon stretches 100 meters through a Beijing alley or a lion springs from a crouch to snatch a lettuce at a Guangzhou door, something ancient and electric moves through the crowd. Dragon and l
On the seventh evening of the seventh lunar month, Chinese gaze upward to see two stars—the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl—meeting across the Milky Way. The Qixi Festival, rooted in a Han dynasty legend
On the seventh evening of the seventh lunar month, Chinese gaze upward to see two stars—the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl—meeting across the Milky Way. The Qixi Festival, rooted in a Han dynasty legend
China celebrates more festivals than perhaps any other nation on earth. This comprehensive guide walks through the full annual calendar of China's most important traditional celebrations.
On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, China eats eight-treasure congee and marks Laba — warm-up to the Spring Festival and Buddha's enlightenment day.
On the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, China climbs its hills and lifts chrysanthemum wine to honour its elders — the Double Ninth Festival, Chongyang.
On the seventh night of the seventh lunar month, girls honoured the Weaver Girl with needles, not roses — a festival of skill before it became one of love.
The Dragon Boat Festival, Duanwu Festival, observed on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, is one of China's oldest and most dramatic traditional celebrations. Built around the tragic legend of po
Founded over 2,000 years ago to honor the poet Qu Yuan, the Dragon Boat Festival combines ancient memory, athletic competition, and culinary tradition — and became the world's first festival inscribed
Celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival marks the end of Spring Festival and China's oldest surviving carnival tradition, dating back over 1,700 years.
The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month, marking the Spring Festival's finale. With lantern displays, yuanxiao dumplings, and riddles, it is China's oldest and most luminou
The Dragon Boat Festival, Duanwu Jie, honors poet Qu Yuan who drowned himself in 278 BC in protest. Racing dragon boats and throwing zongzi into rivers recall the search for his body and the bid to pr
The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month, marking the Spring Festival's finale. With lantern displays, yuanxiao dumplings, and riddles, it is China's oldest and most luminou
The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month, marking the Spring Festival's finale. With lantern displays, yuanxiao dumplings, and riddles, it is China's oldest and most luminou
The Dragon Boat Festival, Duanwu Jie, honors poet Qu Yuan who drowned himself in 278 BC in protest. Racing dragon boats and throwing zongzi into rivers recall the search for his body and the bid to pr
The Dragon Boat Festival, Duanwu Jie, honors poet Qu Yuan who drowned himself in 278 BC in protest. Racing dragon boats and throwing zongzi into rivers recall the search for his body and the bid to pr
From Beijing's 1,000-year-old spring fairs to rural Sichuan temple markets, Chinese temple fairs combine ancient religious devotion, folk entertainment, and rural commerce in celebrations that predate
The Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the ancient poet Qu Yuan and combines dragon boat races, zongzi-eating, and traditional health customs into one of China's most vibrant cultural celebrations.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, brings families together to share mooncakes, admire the full moon, and honor centuries-old traditions of reunion and gratitu