Chengdu Festivals
Besides Chinese traditional festivals such asSpring Festival, Qing-Ming Festival and Mid-Autumn Day, Chengdu has its own local festivals, including Huanglongxi Firedrake Festival, Lantern Fair and Flower Fair. These festivals showcase the very characteristic features of Chengdu. So, they are often the highlights of a visitor's stay there and provide visitors with a deep understanding and appreciation of Chengdu.
Huanglongxi Firedrake Festival The Firedrake Festival originated from Huanglongxi Ancient Town in Shuanglong, Chengdu. In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the local people have started to hold such a festival during January 1st to January 15th of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The performances during the festival include Burning Firedrake, Dragon Dance, Lion Dance and Sichuan Opera appreciation and so on.
Lantern Fair The festival is held in Chengdu's city parks on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month around the Spring Festival and lasts for one month. The festival features Sichuan folk opera, acrobatics, and other performances like kid's shows. Also, there are local snack vendors, blown candy figure making, windmill selling which always attracts the visitor's attention.
Chengdu Flower Fair It is a popular spring event held at Qingyang Palace (Gray Goat Palace) outside the west gate of Chengdu during the Chinese second lunar month. Flower growers carry their flowers and exotic plants to exhibit and sell.
Longquan Peach Blossom Festival The second lunar month is the best season for people in Chengdu to go for a walk in the countryside. The peach blossoms are flourishing on Longquan Mountain at this time of year. During this festival, people can not only enjoy the beautiful flowers but also the tea-tasting and home cooked dishes at the flower grower's house near the mountain.
Tianpeng Peony Fair Pengzhou City, located to the north of Chengdu City, is named Tianpeng in the ancient times. It's renowned for producing a large number of peonies. From April to May each year, Pengzhou holds the Peony Fair. During the fair, many rare peony varieties can be seen. Besides, you can see the folk performances of the Sichuan region.
Xinjin Dragon Boat Race The Dragon Boat Race is held in Xinjin County in Chengdu around Dragon Boat Festival (May 5th of the Chinese Lunar Calendar) annually. Xinjin takes advantage of the Nanhe River and makes the boat race spectacular. During the festival, besides the boat race, there are design performances of the dragon boats and the night cruise on the Nanhe River.
Singing Competition (at Wangcong Temple) The Singing Competition is held in Pixian (in Chengdu) around the fifteenth day of May according to the Lunar Calendar. The competition place is at Wangcong Temple and the singers are all the local peasants. Most of them sing folk songs and most songs are composed by themselves.
Xindu Sweet-scented Osmanthus Fair The Sweet-scented Osmanthus Fair is held in Xindu (in Chengdu) around the Mid-Autumn Day (the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month). During the fair, people visit the sweet-scented osmanthus garden and the painting & calligraphy fair. What's more, many famous local snacks are on sale and the local folk dances and operas can be seen in the fair.
Source: TravelChinaGuide.com
Editor: Feng Hui
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