Famous Events and Festivals in Guilin

Located in the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin is a noted historical and cultural city in China. It is also an important one in northeastern Guilin as well as the transportation and cultural centre.

For a long time, Guilin is well-known worldwide for ‘Guilin’s scenery is the best under heaven’. As a typical tourist city, Guilin is one of the best known tourist destinations not only in China but also all over the world, especially for its unique karst landforms. There are ‘Four Wonders’ in this city, which are beautiful mountains, clear water, peculiar caves and charming stones respectively. And the famous attractions in Guilin have the Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill, Crown Cave and the Li River cruise etc.

Then, what else visitors can take part in or enjoy in Guilin besides the above attractions? Are there some famous events and festivals in Guilin? As we all know, every year, in most places of China, there will be traditional festivals celebrations, including the New Year’s Day, Chinese Spring Festival in February, International Women’s Day, International Labour Day, International Children’s Day, Birthday of the Chinese Communist Party in July, Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Liberation Army, National Day, as well as Lantern Festival, Tomb-sweeping Day and Dragon Boat Festival etc. And following we will offer you the special famous events and festivals in Guilin.

Guilin Scenery Tourism Festival

The first celebration of Guilin Scenery Tourism Festival was on November 23, 1993. This festival has a theme of Guilin’s beautiful hills, waters, and unique cultures. Besides the traditional celebration itself, during Guilin Scenery Tourism Festival, there are also some other splendid activities and performances for visitors to enjoy. In this way, the world will have a better understanding of Guilin which owns an honorable reputation as ‘Guilin’s scenery is the best under heaven’.
Time: October 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013
Address: Guilin

Guilin International Landscape Culture Tourism Festival

Firstly be held in November 8-16 of 1992, Guilin International Landscape Culture Tourism Festival aims to show the beautiful Guilin landscapes as well as historical and cultural charms to people all over the world.

Guilin is abundant with tourist resources, hence, a hot tourist destination. Guilin International Landscape Culture Tourism Festival just show this city’s comprehensive charms to the outside, including its unique landscape culture, historic culture, national culture, folk customs, and modern achievements etc. Theme activities during this festival are mainly consisted of sightseeing, culture, sports, cates, net, exhibition and performances. Visitors also can taste local delicious food, enjoy kinds of folk art shows after appreciate the world-famous landscapes of Guilin.
Time: November, every year
Address: Guilin

Dong Ethnic Minority Fireworks Festival

Dong Nationality Fireworks Festival is the most swinging festival of Dong ethnic group, with a history of more than 100 years. It is held once annual. The celebrating date will be a little bit different in different locations. And within Guilin, in Yinshui Dong Stockaded Village, Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County, the festival is held on the third day of the third lunar month, usually in March or April.

Activities during Dong Nationality Fireworks Festival include firecrackers making, firecrackers scramble, chorus, national costume show, and some other unique performances of the Dong nationality. Fireworks are the symbol of good luck, happiness, and harvest for Dong people. Hence, the most exciting highlight of Dong Nationality Fireworks Festival should be to get the first dropping firecracker before it falls down on the ground. They consider that the first one will have everything goes well in the coming year.

Zhuang Ethnic Minority Song Festival

Zhuang Nationality Song Festival is also known as Gewei Festival, which is held in the third day of March based on Chinese lunar year. As long as mentioning this festival, one person we must talk about firstly, who is Liu Sanjie. She is honored as the god of songs.

Main constituent parts and features of Zhuang Nationality Song Festival:

● festival food-Wucaifan (five-color rice cooked with different vegetables, mainly in red, yellow, purple, black and white).
● Xiuqiu (unique silk artware by hand, with a symbol of pure love. Before the festival, Xiuqiu must be prepared already and taken by girls. If she thinks one boy is her Mr. Right, she can throw the ball to him. The same, if the boy also likes her, he will tie his gift on the ball and return them together).
● Singing contest in antiphonal style: generally with two groups-girl and boy respectively. The topics can be about love, simple chatting or some wisecracks etc.

Time: the third day of March based on Chinese lunar year
Address: Guilin

Zhuang Ethnic Minority Cattle Festival

Respect cattle and love cattle is the tradition of Zhuang Nationality. And based on legends, they believe the eighth day of April based on Chinese lunar year is the birthday of the god of cattle, hence, this festival. On this day, Zhuang people will take yokes off cattles first, brush them clearly, feed them with special food, and then herd them into green fields with abundant grass. Usually, the Zhuang people will sing beautiful songs to praise cattles during cattle-respect ceremony.
Time: the eighth day of April based on Chinese lunar year
Address: Guilin

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