Festival & Holidays

There are lots of traditional festivals and holidays in China, and Beijingers observe them all and enjoy them to the fullest.

Spring Festival

Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, is the celebration of the beginning of the lunar year. It usually occurs in late January or early to mid-February. This festival is celebrated by Chinese people every-where in China and overseas. The main thing to do on Spring Festival is get together with loved ones and make (and eat) jiaozi, Chinese dumplings. Red envelopes containing money are distributed to little kids. If you are here during Spring Festival, it is worth it to spend the holiday with a Chinese friend's family.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. At this time the moon is full, and the day is also known as the Moon Festival. The round shape of the moon represents reunion, and this day should be spent with your family. If you are not with your family, you should go out at night and look at the moon so in that way you can still be together. This was originally a harvest festival, and on this day people eat round "moon cakes." In the 14th century, rebels would pass messages to their cohoris in moon cakes to plan the overthrow of the Yuan Dynasty emperor.

National Day

National Day, on October 1, is the most important national festival. During the celebrations, Beijing is elaborately decorated. Streets are lined with flowers and colorful flags and buntings, and red lanterns are hung on the gates of shops and official buildings. The official reception and celebration are held in the Great Hall of the People while various kinds of performances and operas are shown at all theaters.  A grand parade and elaborate fireworks display is held in Tian'an men Square every fifth or tenth year, with a massive parade and show.

New Year's Day

in addition to celebrating the lunar new year, Chinese people also observe the solar new year. Offices usually get one or two days off at this time, and Chinese people seize the opportunity to go on short trips or go home to see relatives.