1. Four Major Religious Assemblies in the
Ta'er LamaseryWinter
1. Four Major Religious Assemblies in the
Ta'er Lamasery
Dates: The 14th and 15th of the first lunar month, the 14th and 15th of the fourth lunar month, the seventh and eighth of the sixth lunar month and the 22nd and 23rd of the ninth lunar month.
Place: Huangzhong County, Qinghai Province
Activities: Exhibitions of Tibetan, Tu and Mongolian butter flowers are held along with Buddhist activities such as displaying Iarge Buddhist images under the sun.
On the 14th and 15th days of the first lunar month, the Yamataka, or Destruction of Death, dance will be performed and a large-scale exhibition of butter flowers is to be held.
On the 15th of the fourth lunar month, people perform the Yamataka dance and display images of the Buddha under the sun.
From the seventh to the eighth of the sixth lunar month, Yamataka dances are held and images of the Buddha are displayed under the sun, and Buddhist scriptures are recited.
On the 22nd and 23rd of the ninth lunar month-, people pay homage to Buddha and perform the Hayagriva, or the Horse Necked God, Dance to commemorate the death of Master Zongkapa.
2. Harbin Ice and Snow Festival
Dates: January 5-February 5
Place: Harbin, Heilongjiang Province
Activities: In addition to the famous local and international ice lantern and snow sculpture exhibitions and contests, winter swimming, ice hockey and alpine and cross-country skiing contests are held. A film festival and painting, calligraphy and photo exhibitions are held. Moreover, there are performances of folk songs and dances and wedding ceremonies performed on ice. Trade fairs are also organized.
3. Striking Bells to Greet the New Year in Jingci Temple, Hangzhou
Dates: January 1
Place: Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province
Activities: When the New Year arrives, the bells are struck and local residents perform dragon and lion dances. Visitors may board magnificent boats decorated with colorful lanterns to tour the West Lake and enjoy beautiful music and scene.
4. Buddhist Assembly in the Labrang Monastery in Xiahe
Dates: From the 4th to the 17th of the first lunar month and from the 29th of the sixth lunar month to the 15th day of the seventh lunar month
Place: Labrang Monastery, Xiahe, Gansu Province
Activities: The Labrang Monastery in Xiahe is one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism and is the sire of the largest college of lamaism in the world. Every year seven large Buddhist assemblies are held here.
During the assemblies, various Buddhist activities such as displaying images of the Buddha, performing religious dances-, chanting scriptures, praying, tests for monks, debates on scriptures and the month-long Tibetan Travel Festival are held.
5. Jilin Rime Festival
Dates: The second 10-day period in January
Place: Jilin, Jilin Province
Activities: A grand ice and colorful lantern show, ice and snow games, releasing lanterns on the river, fireworks display and a parade of colorful boats are held. Local people will perform the northeastern Yangge dance. The folk festivals of the Manchu and Korean people are celebrated. Exhibitions of delicious northeastern cuisine and trade fairs are also organized.
6. Beijing Longqing Gorge Ice and Snow Festival
Dates: January 15-February 29
Place: Longqing Gorge in Yanqing County, Beijing
Activities: Displays of ice lanterns, fireworks on ice, performances and fishing and other ice sports are arranged. Tourists may participate in the ice and snow revelry festival and visit the Great Wall at Badaling and the Kangxi grasslands.
7. Spring Festival Flower Fair
Dates: The 28th to the 30th of the 12th lunar month
Place: Guangzhou, Guangdong Province
Activities: The Spring Flower Fair is held during the Spring Festival (the lst day of the lst Chinese lunar month), and is a traditional cultural activity unique to Guangzhou citizens.
During the festival, flower farmers deliver huge numbers of fresh flowers to Guangzhou and set up flower show along the city's major streets. People, old and young alike, visit the show to appreciate and purchase the blossoms.