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Beijing Festivals and Events
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Though famous for its Beijing Ice Lantern Festival from mid-December to the end of January. Here tourists can experience cooling waterfalls in summer and icefalls in winter.
Ice Lantern Art Festival at Longqingxia (Jan. 15th – Feb. 28th)
The winter at Longqing is cold but not dreary. The Longqingxia Ice Lantern Festival is second to Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in terms of scale and has already become a traditional tourist attraction. It is a large outdoor ice lantern festival held in the lowest latitude in the world.
The Changdian Temple Fair is Beijing's oldest and best known temple fair. It reopened in 2001, after a 37-year absence.
Changdian Temple Fair (Lunar calendar Jan.1st - 16th)
It is a tradition for Beijingers to attend temple fairs during the Spring Festival. The Changdian Temple Fair is Beijing's oldest and best known temple fair with distinctive local features. Performances include lion dance, Peking Opera, martial arts, acrobatics, pop music, folk dancing and traditional Chinese handicraft. At the temple fair, you can not only watch wonderful live shows, but also savor local flavors and enjoy shopping around.
You can take a ride in a sedan chair and take part in a ritual called "touching the three godly monkeys" at the temple gate to be blessed throughout the year.
Baiyunguan Temple Fair (Lunar calendar Jan.1st - 19th)
Baiyunguan is a Taoist temple with a history of more than 1000 years old. It hosts the only temple fair that is now actually held within a temple. Special activities include riding donkeys, stroking stone monkeys, savoring special local snacks and learning about Taoist culture.
Besides the routine snacks and folk dances, you can obtain a reversed character "Happiness" (fu), the symbol of good luck in the New Year.
Dongyuemiao Temple Fair(Lunar calendar Jan.1st - 7th)
The theme of Dongyuemiao Temple Fair is praying for " 福" (fortune and luck). You will find various forms of 福 in the temple. Many people come to seek their fortune and luck and take them back home.
During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night carrying bright lanterns. In ancient times, the lanterns were fairly simple, for only the emperor and noblemen had large ornate ones; in modern times, lanterns have been embellished with many complex designs.
Lantern Festival (Lunar calendar Jan.6st - 17th)
Lantern festivals are held in many places with various activities. You can attend the festivals in Workers' Cultural Palace, in the Old Summer Palace or in Zizhu Park, appreciating beautiful lighted lanterns on display and participating in the guessing game of lantern riddles.
In fact, many Beijingers come here every year to collect red maple leaves.
Red Maple Festival in Fragrant Hills Park (in the late October and early November)
It is said that red maple in Fragrant Hill is the most enchanting autumn scenery in Beijing. If you are visiting Beijing in autumn, don't forget to admire the charm of the Fragrant Hills, enjoy the pleasant weather and do some moderate climbing.
