Nanning Festivals and Events

Nanning, a place with many ethnic minorities, has many unique folk festivals and the strong customs, which have become the major scenery line of Nanning Tourism. Although there are many traditional festivals in China, the most exciting is undoubtedly unique festivals for all ethnic groups. Here, China Dragon Tours will introduce the representative ethnic festivals in Nanning.

Firecrackers Dragon Festival in Binyang(宾阳炮龙节)

The Firecracker Dragon Festival, which falls on the 11th day of the first month of the Lunar New Year, was inscribed into the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008. It is an original local festival celebrated by both the ethnic Han and the Zhuang people of the region. The Binyang-style dragon dance is a derivative of traditional dragon dance, in which performers hold dragons on poles and walk through floods of firecrackers. While the dragon dance is going on, firecrackers are set off. This custom has a tradition of over 1,000 years in Binyang.

Folk Song Festival(民歌节)

Zhuang People is the largest minority in Nanning, Guangxi. The third day of the third month of Chinese lunar calendar is Zhuang People's traditional folk song festival. With a long history, this festival was originated from the Sui and Tang Dynasties. It has been celebrated in Nanning, the provincial capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region since 1983. During the festival, Zhuang people eat five-colored sticky rice, sing songs, throw embroidered balls, etc.

Dragon Boat Festival(端午节)

The Duanwu Festival, also often known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is a traditional holiday originating in China, occurring near the summer solstice. The festival now occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month of the traditional Chinese calendar, which is the source of the festival's alternative name, the Double Fifth Festival. The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, so the date of the festival varies from year to year on the Gregorian calendar.

Zhongyuan Festival(中元节)

The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, Zhongyuan Jie (中元节), Gui Jie (鬼节) or Yulan Festival (盂兰盆节) is a traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival held in certain Asian countries. According to the Chinese calendar (a lunisolar calendar), the Ghost Festival is on the 15th night of the seventh month (14th in parts of southern China).

Mid-Autumn Festival(中秋节)

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a harvest festival celebrated notably by the Chinese. The festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar with full moon at night, corresponding to late September to early October of the Gregorian calendar with a full moon at night. Mooncakes, a rich pastry typically filled with sweet bean paste or lotus seed paste are traditionally eaten during the festival.

Double Ninth Festival(重阳节)

The Double Ninth Festival (Chong Yang Festival重阳节), observed on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar, is a traditional Chinese holiday, mentioned in writing since before the Eastern Han period (before AD 25). To protect against danger, it is customary to climb a high mountain, drink chrysanthemum liquor, and wear the zhuyu (茱萸) plant, Cornus officinalis. (Both chrysanthemum and zhuyu are considered to have cleansing qualities and are used on other occasions to air out houses and cure illnesses.)

Winter Solstice Festival(冬至节)

The Dōngzhì Festival or Winter Solstice Festival (冬至) is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and ethnic Chinese in East Asia during the Dongzhi solar term (winter solstice) on or around December 22. The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in.

Nanning International Folk Song Arts Festival(南宁国际民歌艺术节)

The annual Nanning International Folk Song Arts Festival evolves from Folk Song Festival of Zhuang People and is held in November. Each year during the festival a lot of stars, artists, guests at home and abroad, and Zhuang people in beautiful costumes will gather here.During the festival, many grand activities are held, such as the National Ethnic Folk Music Competition, Square Culture Presentation and Southeast Asia Delicious Food Festival.

Nanning International Tourist Food Festival(南宁国际旅游美食节)

Every November, Nanning will hold the Nanning International Arts Festival of Folk Songs, which is a grand theme activity. The food festival is a great gathering of delicacies and snacks at home and abroad. Of course, it is a combination of sight-seeing, commercial fairs, entertainment, delicacies, etc.

Flowers Festival(百花节)

The Peach Blossom Festival is held around Qingxiu Mountain and the Azalea Festival is held around Daming Mountain, making the whole city be full of the fragrance of these flowers. Heng County, the famous hometown of jasmine, holds the Jasmine Festival in every August. Jasmine tea fans should not miss this fragrance in August!