Chinese Celebrates in Winter: Winter Events & Festivals in China

1. Paste couplets: The Spring Festival couplets, which use orderly, pairing, concise and delicate words to depict the background of the times and express good wishes for the coming New Year’s. It is a unique literary form of China. In Spring Festival, every family would select a red couplet and paste on the door, whether urban or rural, to add the festive atmosphere for the holiday.

2. Enjoy reunion dinner: The New Year's Eve dinner, also known as the annual dinner, reunion dinner, etc., refers in particular to the family dinner on Lunar New Year's Eve. The Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is a family reunion dinner and the most abundant and important dinner at the end of the year. Not only rich and colorful, but also very fastidious about the overtone. For example, there is always chicken and fish on the table, which sound like “Ji” and “Yu” in Chinese with the meanings of auspicious and abundant.

3. Play firecrackers: 2.In ancient times, firecrackers were used to welcome the gods and expel ghosts. Later with its strong festive color for the development of the symbol of the New Year. Nowadays, with its strong festival atmosphere, firecrackers become a symbol of ring out the old year and ring in the new. Therefore, on the arrival of a New Year, the first thing that every family will do is to burn firecrackers, which symbols welcoming the New Year.

4. Get red packet or lucky money: Lucky money is one of the traditional customs of the Chinese Spring Festival. After the reunion dinner, the elders would give the younger generations red packets that were filled with good wishes money. It is said that New Year's money can suppress evil spirits; the younger generation who get the New Year's money can have a safe coming year.

★ Recommended Things to Do & Places to Visit during the Spring Festival:

1. Stilts Performance: also known as Cao Gao Qiao (踩高跷), The performers tie two wooden stilts to their feet and do some funny movements or folk dances. People may enjoy the performances in Beijing, Tianjin, Liaoning or Shandong Provinces, etc.

2. Temple Fair: Going to a temple fair during Spring Festival is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the festival atmosphere. You may enjoy snacks from all over the country; performances like Lion and Dragon Dance, the fete performance, Chinese shadow puppetry; and recreational activities like ringtoss, archery, mask painting etc. During the Spring Festival, temple fairs are held all over the country. The best places to enjoy temple fairs include Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shaanxi, Guangdong and Henan Province, etc.

3. Lion Dance: Dancing lion, through the development of thousands of years, being exaggerated and beautified constantly, has become an artistic figure with rich nationality style. Lions are made of colorful strips of cloth; each lion is generally performed by two people, one dances at the head, one dances at the tail. When the music of gongs and drums is on, the two performers have to coordinate with each other. In the process of performance, the lion dancers used all kinds of moves to show the martial arts of southern schools, which are very masculine. Foshan in Guangdong province is the best place to appreciate the lion and dragon dance and learn more about Chinese Kung Fu.

4. Yangko Dance: The performance combines music, dance and craftsmanship, including handkerchief tricks and foot movements. Visitors may enjoy the performance in villages in northern Shaanxi Province.

5. Shehuo Parade: The Shehuo Show is a serious folk performance and parade during some traditional Chinese festivals in Shanxi Pingyao. Moreover, during Pingyao’s Chinese New Year Festival, visitors may also experience other kinds of special activities, such as hanging red lantern, writing spring couplets, setting off firecrackers, stilt shows and Yangko dance, etc.

6. Nuo Opera: Nuo Opera, also known as ghost opera, is the oldest kind of opera performed by the Han people to offer sacrifices to gods and dance with ghosts, to drive away pestilence and ward of evil, and pray for peace and flourish. It began in the Ming Dynasty and has a long history. It is very popular during the Spring Festival in Tunpus in Anshun, Guizhou.

7. Northern Sichuan Shadow Puppetry: It is a symbol of Sichuan. After the mix of Cangxi Lantern Drama and the shadow puppetry originated about 2,000 years ago in Shaanxi area, the Northern Sichuan Shadow Puppetry formed its features of fine carving, exquisite performance, graceful singing, and funny play. Langzhong Ancient City, known as the birthplace of Chinese New Year and one of the “Four Well-preserved Ancient Towns” in China, is the best place to appreciate folk culture and architecture.

1. Eating Glutinous Balls: Yuanxiao (元宵), also known as Tangyuan (汤圆), filled with white sugar, edible rose, sesame, sweetened bean paste, walnut, jujube paste, etc. and wrapped into a round with glutinous rice flour. It can be cooked by boiling, frying or steaming. "Roll" Yuanxiao in the north and "make" glutinous rice balls in the south. These two kinds of food have different recipes and tastes, but all have the meaning of reunion and happiness.

2. Making and Appreciating Lanterns: Hanging lanterns, carrying lanterns and appreciating lanterns are traditional customs at the Lantern Festival. It began in the Han Dynasty, flourished in the Sui and Tang Dynasties and passed on to later generations since then. Before the arrival of the 15th day of the first lunar month, the roads and streets are already filled with hanging lanterns, lights sway and flicker at night, the scenery reaches a climax on the evening of the 15th day of the first lunar month. There are palace lanterns, animal head lanterns, paper horse lanterns, flower lanterns, bird lanterns and so on, which attract countless people everywhere.

3. Guessing Lantern Riddles: Guessing lantern riddles is a unique traditional folk cultural activity in the Lantern Festival from ancient times. Every lunar January 15, roads and streets are hung up with lanterns. In order to add a festival atmosphere, some people would write riddle on a note, stock it on the colorful lanterns and wait for others to solve them. Because riddles can enlighten wisdom and cater to the festive atmosphere, so many people respond. Gradually, it becomes an indispensable activity for the Lantern Festival.

4. Dragon Dance: In ancient times, people regarded the "dragon" as an auspicious incarnation, representing the wish of good weather and rain. Therefore, dragon dance was used to pray for the blessing of fine weather and good harvest. People ligature bamboos with irons as internal frames, external use colorful silk or cloth to create the dragon’s body. There are two kinds of dragon dances: one dragon frolicking with a pearl and two dragons frolicking with a pearl. The ways to play dragon are different in different places. Each place has its own characteristics.

★ Recommended Places to Visit during Lantern Festival:

1. Zigong Colored Lantern Festival: Zigong Lantern Festival is the largest-scaled lantern show nationwide. Visitors can pay a visit to the Colored Lantern Park during the Lantern Festival and immerse themselves into the wonderful gorgeous wonderland with numerous lanterns made of paper, silk, ceramics, glass, bamboo, etc. into diverse amazing shapes, like figures, towers, pavilion, garden, flowers, animals, and so on.

2. Xian Tang Paradise: Tourists are also recommended to go to the Tang Paradise in Xian to watch the wonderful Tang Dynasty Show, enjoy the Lantern shows and guess riddles. The flourishing night view would make you wonder whether you are in the present or already traveling backward and entered into prosperous Tang Dynasty.

3. Wuzhen (乌镇): Lantern shows are held in many places in China during the Lantern Festival. However, there is not much place like Wuzhen that holds lantern shows on the water. Every Spring Festival and Lantern Festival, "Wuzhen Water Lantern Festival", would show up just like a promise, stunning appear in this ancient water town south of the Yangtze River.

4. Qinhuai Lantern Shows in Nanjing: There is a saying in Nanjing that goes, "If you don't watch lantern shows in Confucius Temple during the Spring Festival, you have never had the Spring Festival. If you go to Confucius Temple but without a Lantern in hand, you are not spending the festival right!” In the Lantern festival, as the kindling lotus lantern being inserted into a socket on the lampstand, the whole place was lit up. Lanterns in the big screen, the Confucius Temple, the Laomendong, the Qinhuai River, the Ming City Wall, Xinjiekou and other lighting areas unfold brilliant shining lights gradually...

1. Beijing - As the capital city of China, passing the New Year’s Eve in Beijing is certainly remarkable! The Imperial Ancestral Temple, Temple of Heaven, South Luogu Lane, Houhai are all congested with people. If you're out with friends, The Place, Sanlitun and Linekong are recommended. If you are having a date with your girlfriend or boyfriend, South Luogu Lane and the drum Tower are not a bad choice.

2. Hong Kong - On New Year's Eve, there were tens of thousands of people gathered on the two sides of Victoria Harbour. Under the brilliant night sky which is lit up by sparkly fireworks, join the tourists and Hong Kong citizens in a shouting countdown to welcome the splendid New Year. Besides, the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade, the New Central Harbourfront, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, etc. are also good places to enjoy fireworks.

3. Harbin - Do you ever feel like something is missing if there is no snow in winter? It would be an exciting thing to welcome the New Year in the snow! As tens of thousands of people gather to welcome the New Year on New Year's Eve at Central Avenue in Harbin, don’t forget the exquisite ice lanterns.

4. Shanghai - Enjoy the most elegant European-style architecture on the Bund, see dream-like night light show in Shanghai, and expect the arrival of the New Year with your loved ones. Or if you prefer a more original Shanghai, head to Chenghuangmiao to pass the most authentic New Year Eve.

5. Guangzhou - Want to get rid of those thick cotton outwears? Come to Guangzhou to spend the warmest New Year! The most romantic thing is, of course, to say that “Three Words” to your loved one under the "slim waist" of the Canton tower when the new year comes.

6. Nanjing - Nanjing has a profound historical and cultural background. It is the ancient capital of six dynasties. Pay a visit to the Confucius Temple and enjoy the night view of Qinhuai River will make you forget the cold weather. Immerse yourself in the amazing night scenery of glittering water and sparking lights on both shores, feel the warmth and romance of the New Year.

7. Xiamen - On New Year's Eve, it is definitely a good choice to enjoy the slow pace of life on Gulangyu Island. Xiamen Gulangyu Island, which is known as "The Sea Garden". There are many European style gardens on this island and it’s free for sightseeing. You can also pay a visit to the only piano museum in the country and celebrate New Year Eve in melodious rhythm.

8. Tibet - Tibet is the dream destination for every tourist, but not many people can achieve it. If you can start the New Year with a trip to Tibet without hesitation, it would definitely be an unforgettable experience for a lifetime. Only after you have seen Tibet in winter can you understand what a real snowy paradise is like. Under the azure sky, colorful prayer flags flutter, crystal holy lakes shine, towering snow-capped mountains rise into the clouds. There is no scenery more beautiful than this.

Christmas was originally a religious holiday. In the 19th century, with the popularity of Christmas CARDS, the appearance of Santa Claus, celebrating Christmas Day became popular. After the custom of celebrating Christmas became popular in northern Europe, Christmas decorations (such as Christmas Tree, Christmas stocking, Christmas Ring, etc.) appeared.

From the beginning of the 19th century to the middle of the century, all Europe and America began to celebrate Christmas Day. And each country derived their own Christmas culture.

It was in the middle of the 19th century that Christmas spread to Asia. Japan, Korea, China, etc. were all influenced by the Christmas culture.

After the reform and opening up, Christmas spread quickly in China. Till the beginning of the 21st century, Christmas has combined with China’s local customs and become more and more mature. Eating apples on Christmas Eve, wearing Santa hats, sending Christmas CARDS, attending Christmas parties and doing Christmas shopping have become part of Chinese life during Christmas.

★ Recommended Places to Visit during Christmas Day

1. Shanghai - There are lots of activities that will be held during Christmas in Shanghai. Shopping malls offer big discounts during these times and are decorated with a festive atmosphere. The best place to enjoy the atmosphere of Christmas must be Shanghai Disneyland, where the cartoon characters are dressed in costumes for the occasion and there are also various brilliant performances. Visitors will definitely have an unforgettable holiday here.

2. Harbin - The whole city is covered with snow on Christmas Day. It was like being in an ice kingdom. Snow lovers can spend a pure white Christmas in Harbin. Ice and Snow World also starts to open during these days. You may appreciate all kinds of ice sculptures there. Pay a visit to Saint Sophia Cathedral on Christmas Eve. You will be amazed by the magnificent architecture which was built more than a hundred years ago.

3. Hong Kong - Hong Kong is well known as the "shopping paradise". It’s definitely a miss traveling to Hong Kong without doing any shopping. Christmas is the perfect time to go shopping for most shores Hong Kong will offer discounts during these days. Moreover, since it was once a British colony, Hong Kong has taken some western festivals more seriously than inland China. Basically, owners would start to decorate their shops with Christmas stickers, Christmas trees, Christmas flowers, etc. from early November.

4. Xiamen - Christmas in Xiamen is warmer than most places in China, therefore it’s always considered as a peak season to travel around Xiamen. So be prepared for the crowd. Gulangyu Island and Zhongshan Road are two top crowded places on Christmas Eve but with a luscious festival atmosphere. Besides the elaborate decoration, some places will also have artificial snow.

5. Guangzhou - The top recommended place to spend Christmas Day in Guangzhou is Chimelong (长隆). It is a paradise for kids, suitable for a family tour. The park will launch a variety of Christmas activities in early December. The large-scale "Christmas light show" is creative and splendid, just like entering a Christmas dream. You can also make wishes under the tall Christmas tree. All in all, everyone can have a very interesting Christmas here.