China Travel Guide

The Chinese New Year is an occasion to bid farewell to the old year and usher in the new. Chinese people regard the holiday as the most important event of the year. Those who work outside their hometown must return home and have a family gathering. Gifts are exchanged, feasts are made, firecrackers are set off, and new looks are put on. Everything during the Chinese New Year must be joyous to greet good luck in the new year. Spring Festival Origin of Chinese New Year - Story of “Nian” The Chinese New Year is also called Guo Nian (passing the “Nian”). What is “Nian”? It’s said that “Nian” was a ferocious beast that hurt people on the last day of the year and damaging crops. One year, “Nian” the beast came to a village to wreck as usual. He heard a burst of loud, harsh slashing and fled away. It turned out two shepherd boys were competing in whipping. When “Nian” the beast came to another village, he came across red clothes hanging on the door, which scared him greatly. “Nian” the beast ...

Dragon Boat Festival is one of the most famous traditional holidays in China. It was initially a local holiday in south China to worship totem. Gradually, the holiday was given a new purpose of memorizing the great poet Qu Yuan. There are different opinions about how the festival came into being, which results in different terms and celebrating activities for the holiday. Basics of Dragon Boat Festival  Dragon Boat Festival Name: Duanwu, Duanyang, Longri, Longzhou (Dragon Boat), Tianzhong Festival, etc. Date: May 5th in the Chinese lunar calendar Origin: totem worship Primary Holiday Food: Zongzi Celebration: dragon boat race, hanging wormwood and calamus on the door, drink wine Origin of the Dragon Boat Festival There are many conjectures about the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival, here are four widely accepted versions. Dragon Boat Festival and Qu Yuan Qu Yuan was a minister under King Huai of Chu State during the Warring States Period. He was a famous poet, talented politician...

Hungry Ghost Festival , also called Zhong Yuan Festival or Obon Festival , is one of four traditional Chinese holidays (the other three refer to Lunar New Year’s Eve, Qingming Festival , and Double Ninth Festival) for ancestor worship. It bears both the Buddhism belief and the Taoism culture. The origin of the Hungry Ghost Festival can be traced back to the worship of ancestors and other seasonal sacrifices offered in ancient times. July was an auspicious month when crops began to ripen. Mid-July was a day when people celebrate a good harvest and show gratitude to the earth and ancestors. Sacrifices like fresh rice would be offered to their ancestors as thanks to their blessings. Therefore, the Hungry Ghost Festival is about respecting the ancestors and fulfilling filial duties.  Hungry Ghost Festival Basic Facts about the Hungry Ghost Festival Name: Hungry Ghost Festival, Zhongyuan Festival (中元节), Obon Festival(盂兰盆节) Date: July 15 in northern China, July 14 in southern China Origi...