Sichuan Festivals and Celebrations

Time: The fifth day of the fifth lunar month, once every two years

Venue: By the Jialing River, Wusheng County, Guang'an City, Sichuan Province

Origin: Rowing the dragon boat is a time-honored custom of the people in Wusheng in Guang'an City. The section of the Jialing River in Wusheng County features a wide river surface and slow and steady flow, which provides good natural conditions for the dragon boat race. At the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the Wusheng people in their holiday best would go out to attend the dragon boat race. To meet the economic development and the era's demands, the Sichuan Provincial Tourism Bureau and the Guang'an Municipal People's Government work hand in hand to organize the Dragon Boat Tourism Culture Festival once every two years, integrating culture, tourism, trade and economy. 

What's On: The Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament organized according to the international dragon boat competition standards, the evening gala at the opening ceremony, aquatic catching ducks, fireworks and fire dragon shows, delicacy festival, etc.

Main Tourist Attractions: Yangtze Tourist Attractions: Three Gorges of Yangtze River, Jinyun Mountain, Dazu Stone Carvings, Jiangjin Simian Mountain Scenic Area, the Nuoshui River, etc.

Transport: Tourists can go to Chengdu by air, and then go to Wusheng County by train or bus.

Ⅱ.Huanglong International Culture Tourism Festival

Time: From 13th to the 15th day of the sixth lunar month every year

Venue: Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area in Sichuan Province

Origin: Aba boasts picturesque natural scenery and strong ethnic customs of the Qiang and Tibetan people, and is noted for Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong - which are world natural heritages, and Siguniang (Four Girls) Mountain. The Huanglong Culture Tourism Festival is evolved from the ancient Huanglong temple fair. During the festival, various ethnic minority peoples in their holiday best come to Hunglong from all parts of the area to sing and dance joyously, pay homage to the sacred mountain and perform lion dragon dances. While enjoying the happiness brought to them by nature, they recall the great spirit of Yu the Great who led the people in curbing floods, and continue the ancient Tibetan culture - all things on earth having soul, being kind to life and loving nature.

What's On: The Tibetan and Qiang Customs Carnival Evening Party, and the activities of offering sacrifices to Yu the Great and Huanglong Sage, and of paying homage to the sacred mountain.

Main Tourist Attractions: Huanglong, Jiuzhaigou Valley, Munigou Valley, Hongyuan Prairie, etc.

Tansport: Tourists can fly to Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong Scenic Area or go to Chengdu by air or train, and then go there by bus.

Ⅲ.China Panzhihua International Yangtze River Drifting Festival

Time: May every year

Venue: Panzhihua City in Sichuan Province

Origin: The stimulating drifting tour has been loved by many people in recent years. The US magazine National Geography has included the drifting tour on the Yangtze River among the 25 most attractive and challenging activities in the 21st century. The China Panzhihua International Yangtze River Drifting Festival jointly sponsored by the Panzhihua Municipal People's Government, the Sichuan Provincial Tourism Bureau and the Sichuan TV Station is an activity making full use of the Yangtze River drifting resources and integrating holiday, exploration and scientific research. With the purpose of "ecology, environmental protection and affections among ethnic groups," this festival will make participants understand how human beings challenge nature and win over nature, thus enjoying happiness from returning to nature.

What's On: During the festival, two drifting routes on Jinshajiang River Section along the upper reach of the Yangtze River are recommended. Major contests include the most breathtaking 25-km drifting speed contest and 71-km long gentle but tense drifting rally. Items of the ethnic affable cup contest, journalist cup co test and tourist leisure drafting are also held.

Main Tourist Attractions: Ertan National Forest Park, Dahei Mountain Scenic Area, Hongge Hot Spring, Black Dragon Cave, etc.

Transport: Tourists can fly directly to Panzhihua, or fly to Chengdu, and then go to Panzhihua by train.

 
Ⅳ.Litang August 1st International Horse Race Festival

Time: August 1 every year

Venue: Litang County of the Garze Tibetan Automomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province

Origin: In the areas where the Tibetan people live in a compact community, the local people used to pay homage to the mountain god on the third day of the sixth month by the Tibetan calendar. During the festival, the Chamqiangchun Kor Monastery holds various activities according to the time-honored customs. Sometimes the festival lasted 10 days when horse races were held, and the local Tibetan people worshipped the mountain god and celebrated the bumper harvest. In 1964, the Litang County People's Government made a decision that the traditional festival hundred years be celebrated on August 1 to reflect the close relations between the army and the people, hence the name the August 1st International Horse Race Festival. Now this festival includes a wide variety of large-scale celebrations.

What's On: During the festival, various activities are held, such as the horsemanship competition, moving round the sacred mountain, the Litang fashion show, performances of songs and dances, etc. Tourists can also appreciate Tibet Opera, gzhas dance, sgor-bro dance, folk songs, and various activities peculiar to the Tibetan people, such as carrying water, and preparing glutinous rice cakes and buttered tea.

Main Tourist Attractions: Garkung Mountain Scenic Area, Conch Ravine Scenic Area, Mogai Co Scenic Area, Tarkung Monastery, Litang Monastery and Tarkung Grassland.

Transport: Tourist may fly to Chengdu first, and then go to the destination by train.

 
Ⅴ.China Liangshan Yi International Torch Festival

Time: The festival starts from the 24th day of the sixth lunar month and lasts three days and nights.

Venue: Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province

Origin: Called "Duzai" in the Yi language of Liangshan, the Torch Festival is the most important traditional holiday for the Yi people, featuring the richest contents, the most magnificent scenes, the most participants and the stongest ethnic flavor. There are many legends on the origin of the festival. One story goes that in the remote antiquity, the Yi People held torches to eliminate pests and defeat heavenly gods; and another legend notes that the Yi people held high torches to commemorate brave women who resited against being grabbed away for forced marriage. Every story is interesting and moving. In a word, the Yi people regard fired as the embodiment of gods, the source of a prosperous family and the symbol of holiness and happiness.

What's On: The large square joint performances at the opening ceremony, the Torch Carnival Nights, the ceremony for offering sacrifices to ancestors, various kinds of sports matches, folk sports activities, the bonfire evening party of a campfire, the Litang Delicacy Festival, etc.

Transport: It is very convenient for tourists to fly to Xichang or Chengdu, and then change a train to Liangshan.

 
Ⅵ.Kangding Paoma Mountain International Assembly for Moving Round the Sacred Mountain

Time: The eighth day of the fourth month by the Tibetan calendar every year

Venue: Paoma Mountain in Kangding, the capital of the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan

Kangding Paoma Mountain International Assembly for Moving Round the Sacred Mountain

Origin: The eighth day of the fourth month by the Tibetan calendar is a traditional ethnic festival of the Kangding people. Legend has it that Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism, was born on the eighth day of the fourth month by the Tibetan calendar. In the Tibetan language, Sakyamuni was called "Poingyo Dawa" meaning the "15 times of the moon." According to Buddhism, if one chants scriptures in the month, and does one good deed, one will accumulate 15 times of virtue. On the contrary, if one does one evil deed in the month, one will get 15 times of retribution for sin. Hence at the birthday of Sakyamuni, a large Buddhist service is held. During the assembly, the Conch Band is formed, consisting of lamas of the Buddhist temples in Kangding, who hold prayer flags, beat drums, play souna horns and other musical instruments, and chat scripture, followed by numerous laymen. This activity is commonly known as the "assembly for moving round the sacred mountain." Legend has it that after the founder of Buddhism was born, he took a bath in the Nine-Dragon Pond,  hence another name the Bathing-the-Buddha Festival.

What's On: Buddhist services, walking clockwise around the sacred mountain, and performances of songs and dances, Sichuan Opera and Tibetan Opera.

Main Tourist Attractions: Gongga mountain Scenic Area, Conch Ravine Scenic Zone, Mogai Co Scenic Area, Tarkung Monastery, Letang Monastery and Tarkung Grassland.

Transport: Tourists may fly to Chengdu first, and then go to Kangding by train.

 
Ⅶ.King Gesar Folklore Art Festival

Time: On the 10th day of the fifth month (about mid July) and the 10th day of the sixth month (about mid August) by the Tibetan calendar every year

Venue: Dege County, Sichuan Province

Origin: Biography of King Gesar, a world-renowned Tibetan heroic epic, describes the splendid achievements of King Gesar in his life. The long epic has been widely circulated and sung among the Tibetan people for hundreds of years. King Gesar, the embodiment of wisdom and poer, is the hero of the Tibetan people, who was good at subduing various demons and ghosts, and defeating all enemies. With the Gesar's folklore culture and the long epic Bigography of King Gesar as the background, and on the basis of the Tibetan Opera on Gesar, the Gesar Folklore Art Festival is a large cultural activity, mainly reflecting the multi cultures (mainly Kangba culture) of the Tibetan people.

What's On: Tibetan Opera on Gesar
Main Tourist Attractions: Konggar Mountain Scenic Area, Conch Ravine Scenic Area, Mogai Co Scenic Area, Tarkung Monastery, Letang monastery and Tarkung Grassland.

Transport: Tourists can fly to Chengdu, and then go to Dege County by long-distance bus.