Yang Zhou's Festival

The festivals celebrated in Yangzhou are:

Christmas and New Year’s Day
Date: Dec 25, Jan 1
Christmas and New Year’s Eve are increasing in significance but are still not widely celebrated by Chinese people except for the exchange of cards and a little extra spending around Christmas time. There are Christmas and New Years celebrations held where there are many foreigners.

Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)
Date: First day of the Chinese new year
Also known as Spring Festival, this is the most important festival for Chinese people. It begins on the first day of the lunar calendar so the date varies from late January to February. It is a time to visit family, set off firecrackers, give red bags of money to younger family members and eat cake. It is also a month long winter break for students and teachers.

Valentine’s Day
Date: Feb 14

Lantern Festival – Mid February
Date: 15th day of the Chinese year.
On the 15th day of the Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival is held. Lanterns light up the streets and people eat sticky rice.  It marks the end of the Chinese New Year festival.

QingMing Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day)
Date: April 4, 5 or 6.
It is a time to pay respect to deceased ancestors. It is not a public holiday.  The date of Qingming festival is determined by the solar cycle.

International Women’s Day
Date: March 8
Employers give women half a day off work or give them some money.

International Labour Day
Date: May 1
This is a very busy time for travel in China. Employees get a 7 day straight holiday.

International Youth Day
Date: May 4
Fits within the Labour Day break.

International Children’s Day
Date: June 1
Kids get a day off of school or have a "fun day" at school.

Birthday of the Chinese Communist Party
Date: July 1

Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Liberation Army
Date: August 1

Dragon Boat Festival
Date: 5th day of the 5th moon
Dragon boat races are held and people eat sticky rice. This festival is on the fifth day of the fifth moon. It is to celebrate the hero Qu Yuan who protested a corrupt emperor by drowning himself. Fishermen raced their long boats out on to the water and then beat drums and threw rice in order to drive the fish away from Qu Yuan’s body.

Chinese Valentine’s Day
Date:  7th day of the 7th moon

Teacher’s Day
Date: September 10
Teachers get presents.

National Day
Date: October 1
This is the birthday of the People’s Republic of China. This is one of the busiest times for travel during the year since many Chinese people get a seven day break from work or school. It is a time to spend time with family and friends as well as the beginning of a major shopping week.  Shopping areas become packed with shoppers searching for National Day deals.

                                         (Women from Yang Zhou dancing to celebrate)

Moon Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival)
Date: 15th day of the eighth moon
It’s time to eat moon cakes. On the15th day of the eighth moon this festival celebrates the harvest.