Chinese Festivals and Holidays

The Chinese observe a wide variety of traditional and modern holidays, based both on the lunar and solar calendars. The traditional Chinese calendar was based on a lunar cycle-- that is, dates following the regular appearance of the full moon. Even so, the equinox and solstice were essential for determining seasons in China's agrarian society. With the international use of the Gregorian Calendar, some modern holidays, such as the birthdays of national leaders, are based on that.

Major holidays celebrated in China, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese communities are marked in bold , with this year's corresponding Gregorian dates in parenthesis.

Lunar Holidays and Birthdays

1st Moon DAY 1 DAY 9 DAY 15 2nd Moon DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 15 DAY 19 3rd Moon DAY 3 DAY 23 4th Moon DAY 4-6 5th Moon Day 5 6th Moon DAY 24 7th Moon DAY 7 DAY 15 DAY 30 8th Moon DAY 15 DAY 16 DAY 27 9th Moon DAY 9 10th Moon DAY 1 DAY 5 12th Moon DAY 8 DAY 23	Spring Festival Birthday of the Jade Emperor Lantern Festival Birthday of Tudigong, Lord of the Earth Birthday of Wenchang, God of Literature Birthday of Lao Zi, Founder of Taoism Birthday of Guanyin, Goddess of Mercy Birthday of Xuantian Shangdi, God of Rain Birthday of Mazu, Goddess of the Sea Qingming Festival Dragon Boat Festival (June 22, 2004) Birthday of Guan Gong, God of Warriors (Ghost Month) Lover's Day Hungry Ghost Festival Birthday of Dizang Wang, King of the Underworld Mid-Autumn Festival (Sept 28, 2004) Birthday of Sun Wugong, the Monkey King Birthday of Confucius Double Seventh Festival Sending off the Winter Clothes Birthday of Damo, founder of Chan Buddhism Celebration of Siddhartha achieving enlightenment Kitchen God reports to the Jade Emperor
Solar Holidays and Birthdays
April 4, 5, or 6 September 28 October 1 October 10	Tomb Sweeping Day Teacher's Day (Taiwan -- Confucius' Birthday) National Day (People's Republic of China) National Day (Taiwan -- "Double Tenth")

Chinese Festivals and Holidays

Chinese Lunar

Ethnic Minorities in China

Calligraphy 书法

Cheongsam 旗袍

Embroidery 刺绣

Beijing Opera

Chinese Traditional Music

Chinese sculpture

Chinese Imperial Buildings

Chinese Painting