Page 67 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Beijing

Festivals and Events ❮❮ 65

Chinese Valentine’s Day
6 TOP 10 CULTURAL EVENTS
The 7th day of the 7th lunar
month (usually Aug) 1 Temple Fairs
This festival celebrates the forbidden Jan/Feb
love between a mortal and a goddess. Colorful street fairs outside the city’s
Couples exchange gifts, and single large temples during Chinese New Year.
women take fruit or flowers to a 2 Longqing Gorge Ice Festival
temple and pray for love. MAP G5 • Longqing Gorge • Jan & Feb
Showcases giant ice and snow
Mid-Autumn Festival
7 sculptures illuminated by pretty colored
lights in a rural setting 25 miles (40 km)
The 15th day of the 8th lunar
month (usually Sep) northwest of Beijing (see p105).
Also known as the Harvest or Moon 3 Surge
Festival, this is traditionally a time Spring and autumn
for family reunions and for giving Emerging artists’ exhibitions take place
at the Red Gate Gallery (see p90).
boxes of sweet and savory
mooncakes (yuebing). 4 Beijing International Film Festival
Various venues • Apr
Cricket-Fighting
8 This is China’s largest film festival.
5 Meet in Beijing Festival
Mid-Sep to the end of Oct
The Chinese version of cricket Apr–Jun
A festival of theater, dance, and music
involves ruthless antennae-on- by groups from several continents.
antennae action as cricket-fanciers
goad their insects into battle in the 6 Art Beijing
plastic bowls that serve as National Agricultural Exhibition
Center • May
gladiatorial arenas. Once the favorite Contemporary art fair with exhibitors
sport of emperors, it now takes place from around the globe.
in backstreets all over town. 7 Croisements Festival
May–Jun
Festival blending French and Chinese
culture, often on the same stage.
8 NLGX Performing Arts Festival
Jun–Aug
International players perform in
venues in Nan Luogu Xiang (see p81).
9 Beijing Dance Festival
Jul
Established modern dance companies
perform alongside emerging talent.
10 Beijing Music Festival (BMF)
National Day on Tian’an Men Square Oct
Featuring the biggest names in music.
National Day
9
Oct 1
On the anniversary of the foundation
of the People’s Republic, crowds
turn out to watch military parades in
Tian’an Men Square, which is colored
red by a sea of waving flags.
Christmas Day
0
Dec 25
Not a traditional Chinese holiday but
the festivities have been adopted via
Hong Kong, which means that the Opera, Meet in Beijing Festival
focus is on squarely consumerism.

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