Festivals and Ceremonies

Festivals and ceremonies are considered the source of folk culture in China. And Shaanxi, as the cradle of Chinese national culture, has some of its festivals and ceremonies dating back to the Western Zhou Dynasty. Various grand festivals make the province an excellent place to visit. Visitors can enjoy the charming customs of Shaanxi all year round, such as the lively Dragon Boat Race, grand sacrificial ceremonies as well as various cultural tourism celebrations. A visit to Shaanxi will be worthwhile beyond any doubt.

Sacrificial Ceremony in the Mausoleum of Yellow Emperor

Time: Qing Ming Festival (also called Tomb-sweeping Day, on April, 5th)
Place: Huangling County, Yan’an City
Activities: declamation of the elegiac address, sacrifices offering, firecrackers display, pines and cypresses planting, visit to the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor

Rape Flower Festival

Time: from March to April
Place: Hanzhong City
Activities: trips to the site of rape flowers, the photography competition, local performances, folk songs festival of southern Shaanxi, cultural tourism festival in Wuhou (Zhuge Liang) Tomb.

Kermis in Mount Huashan

Time: from the end of March to April
Place: Mount Huashan in Huayin County, Weinan City
Activities: grand mountain-honoring ceremony, folk Shehuo celebrations, Qinqiang performance and drum dance, the international mountaineering festival, shows of paintings, calligraphies and photos.

Dragon Boat Festival in Hanjiang River

Time: May
Place: Ankang City
Activities: dragon boat parade and race, performances, ecotourism promotion, investment and trade fairs

Xi’an City Wall International Marathon Race

Time: November
Place: Xi’an City Wall
Activities: the 5 km event, the 10 km event, the Semi-journey Marathon and the Marathon Photography Contest.

International Cultural Tourism Festival, Mount Taibai Mountaineering Festival and Investment Fairs

Time: usually in April or September
Place: Famen Temple Buddhist Culture Attractions and Mount Taibai Scenic Area in Baoji City
Activities: grand performances, exhibitions and dharma assembly in Famen Temple, investment fairs and mountaineering.

Overseas Chinese Ancestor Worship

Time: usually in September or October
Place: Baoji Gymnasium
Activities: the grand opening ceremony and performances, the sacrificial ceremony of Chinese Ancestor Emperor Yandi, the International Chinese Cultural Forum, tours to overseas Chinese hometowns.

Ice and Snow Festival in Yuhua Palace

Time: from mid-December to the end of February
Place: Yuhua Palace in Tongchuan City
Activities: colorful ice sculptures show, ice ballet show, ice skating and skiing, snow cubing, ice jungle exploration and dogsleds’ riding.