Top Events, Holidays & Festivals in Beijing Each Month 2023

Plan your Beijing tour? You may wonder what is going on during your visit in Beijing. There is always something going on in Beijing. Whether you are looking for something to do on holidays or at the weekends, or with your family,  Beijing has something to suit everyone.

I’ve rounded up a complete list of annual Events, Holidays & Festivals each month in Beijing. You’ll be guided to monthly activities with suggested readings. This year’s list will be adjusted more or less due to the covid-19 pandemic. Have a good time in Beijing!

Some of the events listed below will be subject to change without notice. You may confirm them by leaving me a message or checking related government websites.  Have a good trip to Beijing!

January Events, Holidays & Festivals

Beijing could be very cold and windy in January, and very dry also. The exciting point is that many of the city’s indoor areas are warmed by a 24-hour heating system.

Add on:

How to Visit Beijing in January
Beijing January Realtime Weather Photos

Public Holidays

 January 01 – 03:  New Year Celebration 元旦新年
China attaches more importance to its own traditional new year – Chinese lunar new year, known as Spring Festival. So New Year’s day is celebrated not as much as it is in other parts of the world because Chinese Lunar New Year is coming soon.

However, people do enjoy one day paid holiday.  More and more young people follow up the western countries for a big holiday, holding parties, having excursions.

Each year the local tourism bureau will hold a fantastic “New Year Celebration” on the eve of the coming new year in a unique way.  Turn to a local travel agency or visit the tourism bureau’s official website for the new year celebration.

Annual Events and Festivals

1. Xiaohan, or Minor Cold on Jan 05 小寒
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar classifies the year into 24 solar terms. Xiaohan, or Minor Cold, is the 23rd solar term, which falls on Jan 5 this year. Beijing and most areas in China have entered the bitter cold stage of winter.

2. National Police Day on Jan 10 中国人民警察节
China mark the Chinese people’s police day on Jan. 10 as of 2021, the Ministry of Public Security. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, more than 14,000 police officers have laid down their lives, according to figures released by Ministry of Public Security.

3. Dahan, or Major Cold on Jan 20 大寒
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar classifies the year into 24 solar terms. Major Cold, the laster term of the 24 solar terms. The weather is very cold. Special cuisine fit for Major Cold is Laba porridge.

4. Chunyun Starting on Mid-Jan 春运
Chunyun, also known as Chinese New Year Migration, Spring Festival Travel Rush is the largest human migration on earth happening annually. It usually starts 15 days ahead of the Chinese New Year and 25 days after, lasting for 40 days.

5. Spring Festival Jan 21- 27 (2023) 春节

Chinese New Year Eve 新年除夕
The Chinese Lunar New Year Eve falls on Jan 21, 2023. A time for family gathering and gala dinner.

From January 21 to 27 is the China’s biggest holiday lasting 7 days. Chunyun (Spring Festival)), also known as China’s New Year’s Migration, is the largest human migration that takes place on earth every year. The travel rush usually starts 15 days before and 25 days after the Spring Festival and lasts for 40 days.

Chinese government makes it a 7 day holiday by moving the prior weekend and the upcoming one together.

See:How to Spend Spring Festival in Beijing  and  Dinner on Chinese New Yea

6. Longqing Gorge Ice Lantern Festival 龙庆峡冰雪节
Opening in the middle of January ( lasting about one month)
But if even it is delayed, you still can go there to have a glimpse of the ice festival site which is under preparation, still a fun.  See  How to Visit Longqing Gorge Ice Lantern Festival.

7. Longtan Ice and Snow Festival  龙潭湖冰雪节
Time: Jan 05 -Feb.20  (Subject to the winter temperature)
Venue: Longtan Lake
Entrance Fee: RMB50
See: Longtan Lake Park Ice and Snow Festival

8.  Shichahai Ice Skating Ring 什刹海溜冰场
Time: Jan 05 -Feb.10 (Subject to the winter temperature)
Venue: Shichahai ( Houhai Lake )
Opening Hours: 9:00 – 20:30
Entrance Fee: RMB 10

9. Ski Resorts in Beijing 北京滑雪场
Visiting a ski resort is a bonus added to make a perfect winter holiday in Beijing. No matter you are a keen skier or non-skier, you can rewind and entertain yourself in a ski resort around Beijing, skiing and participating in snow activities, or just sitting in a cozy snack bar and appreciating the white ski area over a cup of coffee or tea.

See: Top 10 Beijing Ski Resorts

February Events, Holidays & Festivals

February has its perks in the terms of budget and crowd levels, but it is still very cold outside, average high 5℃ and low -7℃ though a little warmer than January.

Add on:

How to Visit Beijing in February
Beijing February Realtime Weather Photos

Annual Events and Festivals

1. Start of Spring on Feb 04 立春
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar classifies the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Spring, the first solar term of the year, begins this year on Feb 3. Start of Spring opens the curtain of spring and everything turns green and full of vigor;  the weather is becoming warmer.

2. Rain Water starting on Feb 19 雨水
Rain Water is one of the 24 solar terms in China created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural production. Rain Water signals the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature.

3. Lantern Festival  ( Feb 5, 2023) 元宵节
Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the Chinese lunar new year.  The New Year comes to an end when the Festival of Lanterns sets in. Each lantern festival finds lantern shows and folk dance everywhere.

One special food for the festival is the Tang Yuan, another kind of dumplings made of sweet rice rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or different fillings. People solve riddles on the lanterns.

4. Skiing and Skating Activities 滑雪和滑冰
Most of the skiing and skating activities in January are carried on in February.

March Events, Holidays & Festivals

In Beijing, the winter-long indoor heating will be turned off on the official date of March 15 of each year. That means a harsh and freezing weather has left us. With the passing of the dry and harsh January and February, March foresees the local weather will become warmer and warmer. But people can still feel a bit chilly in March, especially in the first half month of March.

Add on:

How to Visit Beijing in March
Beijing March Realtime Weather Photos

Annual Events and Festivals

1. Lianghui 两会 ( Two Sessions )
Lianghui , literally “two meetings”,  refers  to the annual meetings of the National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. The two meetings last about one week which ends at Mid March. The Two Meetings are often regarded as  the Senate, house of Representatives in China. These are the most important political meetings in Beijing China.

2. Awakening of Insects on March 05 惊蛰
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar classifies the year into 24 solar terms. Awakening of Insects  falls on March 5 and it signifies a rise in temperature and increased rainfall. Its name tells the fact that animals sleeping in winter are awakened by spring thunder and that the earth begins to come back to life.

2. March 8 International Women’s Day 三八妇女节
On this special day, some attractions in Beijing offer free entrance tickets to female visitors. Some working units allow female workers half day off or with extra pay if  they are too busy to have day or half day off. Some markets or shopping malls will give more discounts to female buyers to increase business.

3. Beijing Fashion Week 北京时装节
Beijing’s Fashion Week is held twice a year – Late March and Mid-November. It highlights the work of Chinese designers and their growing influence on the market.

4. China Tree Planting Day (Arbor Day) 植树节
March 12 is China’s Trees Planting Day.  It is getting warmer in Beijing. Beijing celebrates Arbor Day with tree planting.  Beijing has established over 100 reception points for urban residents to “adopt” trees or green land.

5. World Consumer Rights Day 消费者权益日
World Consumer Rights Day was established on 15 March 1983 to promote consumer rights around the world.  On this special day, in Beijing, you will see a CC TV evening gala sponsored by the government to crack down the poor quality products and companies without trust and reputation.

6. Hand in Hand Poverty Alleviation Program 手拉手情系贫困小伙伴全国统一行动日
March 16 is the special day for Hand in Hand Poverty Alleviation Program. This event  is mainly used to help children and other vulnerable groups in poverty stricken areas. People will donate on this special day.

7.  Chinese Medical Festival  中国国医节
March 17 is Chinese Medical Festival which dates back to the year 1929. On this special day, some hospitals would go on to the streets in Beijing for complementary health checks and other medical activities involved.

8.  Plum Blossom Festival at Ming Dynasty City Wall Relics Park
明城墙梅花节

Plums are the early flowering trees that bloom as earlier as mid March in Beijing and end in mid April. The best place to see plum blossoms is Ming Dynasty City Wall Relics Park.

The park is located just south of Beijing Railway Station. The park is the only remaining city wall relics built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Beijing. The remnant city wall is about 1.5km in length, which is composed of the wall relics itself and the southeast corner tower of the former inner city in Ming and Qing Dynasties.April

9. Spring Equinox on March 20 春分
The Spring Equinox, as the fourth term of the year starts on March 20. The Spring Equinox signifies the equal length of the day and night time.

April Events, Holidays & Festivals

April is one of the best months to tour Beijing. Actually a warm and comfortable spring in Beijing starts from early April, one month later than that in southern China. The temperature in April rises gradually with the average low at 7℃ and highest 20 ℃.

 Add on:

How to Visit Beijing in April
Beijing April Realtime Weather Photos

Public Holiday

Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Festival) 清明节
Qingming Festival falls on April 4 each year. For the Chinese, Qingming, first of all, a day to remember and honor one’s ancestor. People, young and old like, pray before the ancestors, sweep the bombs and offer food, tea, chopsticks, paper accessories and/or
libation to the ancestor. People have one paid day off.

Qingming is also a day to celebrate the coming of spring. People go on family outings, start the spring ploughing, sing, dance etc. Another popular thing to do is fly skies.

Annual Events and Festivals

1. World Snooker China Open 斯诺克中国公开赛 (北京)
The tournament currently takes place at the Beijing University Students’ Gymnasium, Haidian District, Beijing in late March and early April. It is the last ranking event before the World Championship.

2. Beijing International Long-distance Running Festival  北京国际长跑节
Normally Beijing International Running Festival Kicks off on mid April 1 .  The annual spring running has been a traditional sporting activity in the capital city ever since its established  in 1956.

3. Yuyuantan Park Cherry Blossom Festival北京玉渊潭樱花节
Avenue: Yuyuantan Park ( not far from CCTV Tower and the China Millennium)
Time: Late March – April
Yuyuantan Park is a hectic tourist attraction from April through to early May every year due to its amazing cherry blossoms. There are around 200,000 plants including about 2000 cherry trees with approx. 20 different species. Many of the cherry trees were gifts from Japan when the two countries established diplomatic ties in the 1970s.

4. Beijing Tulip Cultural Festival 北京国际鲜花港郁金香文化节
Venue: Beijing Shunyi Fresh Flower Port
Add: Located in Shunyi District’s Yang Town, Beijing
Time: Mid-April – early May
The tulip culture festival will be held in an indoor site and an outdoor site. Over 3 million tulips with more than 70 species, such as Barcelona, Xiusemeiren and Don Quixote, and some bulbous flowers rarely seen in China such as Hyacinth, Water Hyacinth and Ranunculus Asiaticus, and some advanced techniques including soilless planting and pot growing will be displayed at the outdoor site.

5. Beijing Zhongshan Park Tulip Festival 中山公园郁金香节
Avenue: Zhongshan Park ( on the north of Tiananmen Square )
Opening Time: around mid-April
This peaceful park becomes awash with the color of tulip blossoms. It boasts over 30 varieties of tulips with over 300,000 tulips. Each year it attracts thousands of visitors.

6. Beijing International Peach Blossom Music Festival 北京 国际桃花音乐节
The annual International Peach Blossom Festival is held in mid-April in Pinggu County,  Beijing, which lasts one month. Pinggu is quite popular for its peaches and peach garden. Now it is the largest peach garden throughout the world.

7. Beijing International Film Festival 北京国际电影周
The week-long film festival was established in 2011.  Normally it takes place in late April annually. Beijing International Film Festival, with its elaborate ceremonies, red carpets and diverse perspectives, is an unmissable chance for movie-lovers to see the latest films from both home and abroad.

8. Beijing International Automobile Exhibition 北京国际汽车展览会
Beijing International Automotive Exhibition or Auto China  is an auto show held in late April biennially in Beijing since 1990. This auto festival has now become one of three top auto shows in the world and other two are  Frankfurt (Frankfurt Motor Show), New Delhi (Auto Expo) . Currently China boasts the largest and fastest growing auto market in the world.

9. Miaofengshan Temple Fair 妙峰山传统民俗庙会
Venue: Miao Feng Shan, about 55km West of Beijing, is the nearest mountain in Beijing
Time: Late April and mid May
At the end of April, Miao Feng Shan Mountain with several century-old pilgrim’s trails and the Golden Summit, will hold the biggest temple fair in northern China. Temple fairs have traditionally been a time for worshiping the gods and praying for blessings, a great opportunity for some serious fun. Many kinds of traditional shows will be on display.

10. Grain Rain on April 20 谷雨
Rainfall increases which is helpful to grain crops. Grain Rain is one of the 24 solar terms. The traditional Chinese lunar calendar  classifies the year into 24 solar terms.

May Events, Holidays & Festivals

May is one of the best months to visit Beijing weather-wise, a transit month between short spring and long summer in Beijing. It is neither hot nor cold with average high 25 ℃ and low 15 ℃.  So it very comfortable in May. The day and night temperature difference in May is still big, but basically a T-shirt and a light jacket is enough to come with the weather.

Add on:

How to Visit Beijing in May
Beijing May Realtime Weather Photos

Public Holidays

International Labor Day ( May 1)  五一国际劳动节
The second important holiday just after the Chinese New Year’s Day. Employees will enjoy a one-day paid day-off. Celebration parties in parks take the place of parades today.

Chinese government makes it a 3 day holiday by moving the prior weekend and the upcoming one together. This is the Chinese government’s “holiday economy” policy. Avoid visiting Beijing during the May Day Holiday due to the possible tourist hordes.

Annual Events and Festivals

1.Start of Summer on May 05 立夏
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms.
Start of Summer falls on May 5 and it signals the summer season begins.

2.Beijing Midi Music Festival 北京迷笛音乐节
Venue: Changed annually ( see its official website: www.midifestival.com/ )Time: 1-4 MayBeijing Midi Festival is one of China’s largest rock music festivals and is hosted by the Beijing Midi School of Music.
The Mini Midi stage was first introduced in 2005. The festival currently is held annually in three Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen

3.Beijing Rose Cultural Festival 北京月季花文化节
Venues: Beijing Botanical Garden, Temple of Heaven, Taoranting Park and more
Time: May 30 – June 20
The Chinese rose has its own cultural festival in Beijing. It is one of the city flowers of Beijing. Each year from the end of May to the Mid June, Beijing will hold its Rose Cultural Festival.

4. Youth Day ( May 4 ) 五四青年节
May 4th Youth Day is a day in memory of the first mass student movement in 1919. It is a movement triggered by the old Chinese government that gave in to the Japanese government’s attempt to colonize Shandong Province. Beside, it is also an anti-Confucius movement as well as one that promoted the western scientific and democratic ideas. Now on that day, the government at all levels will organize youth activities everywhere in the country to commemorate the special day.

5. Mother’s Day 母亲节
Chinese Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday in May. Mother’s Day is getting more popular in China.  Carnations and lilies are the important flowers offered on that day.

6. National  Tourism Day (May 19)  中国旅游日
May 19 was declared as National Tourism Day in 2011. This special day is set to promote tourism as China has entered a period of mass tourism, in a bid to support tourist initiatives throughout the country. Many discounts for entrance fees and tickets will be offered by related units to benefit tourists.

7. National Day for Helping the Disabled 全国助残日
This day falls on the third Sunday in May. In China, it is reported there are approx. 51 million disabled people, or 5 percent of the total population. The Chinese government has paid great attention to the question of rights of the disabled and provided them special assistance and protection in order to reduce or eliminate the effects of disability and the external obstacles and guarantee their rights. On this particular day, various activities are carried out to help disabled people.

8. Huangyaguan Great Wall Marathon 黄崖关长城马拉松
Located 120km northeast of Beijing, Huangyaguan Great Wall is administered by Tianjin City. Since the inaugural Great Wall Marathon in 1999, the great wall race has grown steadily to over 2000 runners with participants from over 50 nations annually. The Great Wall Marathon event offers three distances of race: a marathon, half marathon and a 8.5km Fun Run. The Great Wall International Marathon is held on the third Saturday in May every year.

9. Daxing Annual Watermelon Festival 北京大兴西瓜节
China is the largest watermelon producers, 40% of the total watermelon production in the world. Daxing, a district in the southern Beijing is well known for its watermelon growth and production. Each year, the local Daxing goverment will hold a watermelon festival to promote watermelon economy and culture. Many domestic and oversea visitors will attend the special festival. This festival falls on late may and early June.

10. Grain Buds on May 21 小满
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar classifies the year into 24 solar terms. Grain Buds this year falls May 21, the 8th solar term of a year.

June Events, Holidays & Festivals

In recent years the weather in May has felt like summer, but the high summer season doesn’t tart until June. July is the hottest month in Beijing. So June is a transit month between the early summer (later May ) to the hottest summer (late July).

Add on:

How to Visit Beijing in June
Beijing June Realtime Weather Photos

Public Holiday

Duan Wu (Dragon Boat) Festival 端午节
Time:June 14
Also called the Dragon Boat Festival, a lunar holiday, occurring on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. It is in memory of a great patriot poet named Qu Yuan of the then State of Chu during the Warring States period (475-221 B.C, who drowned himself to protest his emperor who gave in to the bully State of Chin.

For fear that fish may eat his body, people of Chu launched their boats and started throwing rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves into the river where he was drowned to feed the fish. Now in some places, the big event of dragon boat contest will be held to commemorate the special day. People today still have the bamboo-leave rice dumplings on the occasion today.

People have one paid day off for the holiday.

Annual Events and Festivals

1. Children’s Day 六一儿童节
June 01 is a big day all the kids all over the country. Almost all entertainment places such as cinemas, parks and children museums and palaces are open free to them or with discounted prices. It is also the right time for people to show their concern over the problems arising from the kids.

2. National Eye-care Day 全国爱眼日
China’s national eye-care day falls on June 6.  Understanding the serious situation about blindness in the country and the gravity of raising public awareness on eye health issues, the Chinese Ministry of Health, along with 12 other Ministries, officially declared 6 June as “National Eye Day” in 1996.  Each year a unique theme will be carried out to celebrate the special day to educate people to care their eyes.

3. The Chinese Population Day 中国人口日
The special day falls on 11 June annually.

4. China Children Charity Day 中国儿童慈善活动日
This special day falls on June 22. It is reported that since 2002, China Children’s Foundation has launched a series of large-scale public welfare activities to celebrate  “China Children Charity Day”.  China Children Charity Day is getting popular and has become a base for Chinese children and a mature public platform for the development of philanthropy in China.

5. China National Land Day 全国土地日
This special day falls on June 25.   China National Land  was inaugurated  June 25, 1991. Since then each June 25, National Land Day will be celebrated aimed at protecting the land resources. Each year a theme is chosen to promote the protection of the land in China. China has some 130 million hectares of arable land. Available farmland in China decreases every year as more land is taken for development.

6. Beijing International Tourism Expo 北京国际旅游博览会
Time: late June
Asia’s leading annual travel and tourism event – Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE). Beijing International Tourism Expo is one of the fastest growing in the industry, attaining a quality ranking in Asia, and becoming an important and influential platform for tourism networking and business transactions.

7. Grain in Ear on May 5 芒种
The Chinese lunar calendar classifies the year into 24 solar terms. Grain in Ear, the 9th solar term, falls on June 5 this year. The arrival of Grain in Ear shows the ripening of crops such as barley and wheat.

8. Gaokao on on June 07 高考
gao kao, or National College Entrance Examination, is an academic examinationheldannually in the People’s Republic of China. This standardized test is a prerequisite for entrance into almost all higher education institutions at the undergraduate level.

9. Father’s Day on June 20 父亲日
Father’s Day in China is always celebrated and observed on Third Sunday of June each year.

10.  Summer Solstice on June 21 夏至
The sun altitude arrive the highest in north; June 21 has the longest daytime this year.

July Events, Holidays & Festivals

July is the hottest month in Beijing in a year. Temperatures could rise to 40°C during daytime. With the high heat of July also comes humidity, making the heat more unbearable and uncomfortable overall.

Add on:

How to Visit Beijing in July
Beijing July Realtime Weather Photos

Annual Events and Festivals

1. The CCP’s Birthday ( July 1 )  7.1 建党
It is the day in memory of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921 in Shanghai. The special day is often celebrated by party members who are holding meetings or reading front page editorials from major government newspapers.

2.  China National Maritime Day  中国航海日
This special day falls on 11 July.  China National Maritime Day is set to commemorate marked Zheng He’s first voyage on 11 July, 1405.  Zheng He, the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) navigator went on seven voyages to show China’s might to the rest of the world, under the command of Yongle Emperor.

3. Minor Heat on July 7  小暑
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar classifies the year into 24 solar terms. Minor Heat is the 11th solar term of the year,starting on July 6 this year. The hottest days are yet to come.

4. Major  Heat on July 22 大暑
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar classifies the year into 24 solar terms. Minor Heat starts on July 22 this year.Here comes the hottest days.

August Events, Holidays & Festivals

August is our hottest and humidest month. The sad thing is that the heat of August comes hand in hand with humidity. Though the Beijing weather in August is not appealing to travelers coming to Beijing, August is a peak tourist season in China with a great number of domestic tourists visiting Beijing.

Add on:

How to Visit Beijing in August
Beijing August Realtime Weather Photos

Annual Events and Festivals

1. Army’s Day (August 1) 八一建军节
It is a day for People’s Liberation Army to commemorate the communist-led army for the first armed uprising in Chinese communist history against the Nationalists on August 1, 1927. It was considered as the beginning and founding of the Red Army (later the People’s Liberation Army). Now the anniversary is a celebration day for Chinese servicemen, also a time to promote better relationships between the army and civilians.

2. National Fitness Day 全民健身日
This special day falls on 8 August.  On this day, the Beijing sports authorities organizes a number of activities to mark China’s National Fitness Day. One of these activities is citizens from different districts in Beijing performing the exercises at a designated area.

3. Ghost Festival 中元节
Time: 15th day of 7th Month ( Chinese lunar calendar ) August 22
Burning fake paper money and making offerings to ancestors and the dead to comfort them in the afterlife and keep them from troubling the living.

4. The seventh evening of the seventh moon  七夕
Time: August 14
It is a Chinese festival that celebrates the annual meeting of the cowherd and weaver girl in Chinese mythology. This is an important festival for young girls,and sometimes called the Chinese Valentine’s Day. Various activities will be carried out, especially by merchants to attract young people to consume – shopping, drinking, dancing and more.

5. Chinese Doctor’s Day 中国医师节
Activities will be held  for the celebrations of China’s Medical Workers’ Day, which falls on August 19 each year, calling for respect from society for the country’s 11.7 million medical and health workers in China.

September Events, Holidays & Festivals

September is the best visiting time in Beijing – not very hot, not so dry full of many fine day with a blue and clear sky. September in Beijing is starting to feel quite fall-like. Its average temperature is between 26℃ and 15℃.

Add on:

How to Visit Beijing in September
Beijing September Realtime Weather Photos

Annual Events and Festivals
1. Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节 Sept 21
This special day falls on  the 15th of the eighth month in China’s lunar calendar.  It is second important Chinese traditional festival, just after the Chinese New Year. The moon on this day is the fullest and largest to the eye. Seeing it with the whole family while having on good wine, fruits and moon-cakes features the night event.

2. Victory Day of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression 中国抗日战争胜利纪念日
September 3 is ratified as “Victory Day of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression” . China will hold various national memorial activities on September 3 keep firmly in mind the significance of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and its important contribution to the World Anti-Fascist War.

3. Teacher’s Day ( September 10) 教师节
September 10 is the Teacher’s Day of People’s Republic of China. In the year 1984, Wang Zishen, former president of Beijing Normal University, suggested to establish a festival day for the Chinese teachers. On January 21, 1985, the ninth session of the Sixth NPC Standing Committee formally decided to fix the September 10 of every year as the Teacher’s Day of the country.

4. China Alzheimer’s Day on Sep 17 中华老年痴呆日
China Senile Dementia Day was inaugurated on 17 September 2007. Since then each year various activities are taken to promote the prevention and cure of senile dementia in China.

5.National Humiliation Day 9.18 中国国耻日
This day falls on 18 September.  China’s National Humiliation Day is set to “Never Forget National Humiliation, Join up for National Rejuvenation”,  in memory of the September 18 Incident in 1931, a major event in Japanese troops’ invasion of China.

6. National Dental Care Day 全国爱牙日
National Dental Care Day, which falls on 20 September every year, was inaugurated  in 1989. Its aim is to promote dental health by spreading some of the many ways and basic knowledge  to prevent dental diseases to the public. It  tries to increase the awareness of dental care among the people.

7. National Defense Education Day 全民国防教育日
National Defense Education Day was inaugurated on 15 September 2001. Now annually the third Saturday is the designated day for National Defense Education.  On this special day, various activities are carried out in China to mark the National Defense Education Day, such as air defense warning will be sounded  together with other safety drills.

8. Beijing Chrysanthemum Cultural Festival 北京菊花文化节
Venue: Beijing Shunyi Fresh Flower Port
Add: Located in Shunyi District’s Yang Town, Beijing
Time: Late September – Mid October
Chrysanthemum Culture Festival uses the combination of indoor scenery and outdoor exhibition. Each year with a unique theme, the festival is aimed at creating a colorful flowers landscape, allow the visitors to appreciate various chrysanthemums, colorful chrysanthemums and elegant aroma of chrysanthemums.

9. White Dew  on Sep 07 白露
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar classifies the year into 24 solar terms. White Dew is the 15th solar term of the year, starting this year on Sept 7. White Dew singals the real starting of cool autumn. The temperature declines gradually.

10. Chinese Farmers’ Harvest Festival 中国农民丰收节
The Chinese Farmers’ Harvest Festival, established in 2018  falls on the annual “Autumn Equinox” ( Sep 23 this year). The establishment of the “Chinese Farmers Harvest Festival” greatly arouses the enthusiasm, initiative and creativity of hundreds of millions of farmers and enhance their sense of honor, happiness and gain.

11. Autumn Equinox 秋分
The mid-point for the autumn season;
The temperature begins to decrease;
Day and night are equally long on the day.

12. Martyrs’ Day 中国烈士纪念日
In August 2014, China’s toplegislature approved September 30 as Martyrs’ Day. It is estimated that China has about 20 million martyrs.

October Events, Holidays & Festivals

October is one of the best months to visit Beijing. It is a tourist peak season in Beijing. October 01 – 07 is an important China holiday – China National Day, a week-long holiday. There will be a huge crowd of domestic tourists flocking to Beijing. Avoid visiting Beijing during the week-long holiday (October 01 – 07 ).

Add on:

How to Visit Beijing in October
Beijing October Realtime Weather Photos

Public Holiday

National Day (October 1)
It is the most important day for marking the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Employees will enjoy a 3-day paid day-off. Various  celebration activities will be taken. The official paid day off for the National Day is 3 days. But Chinese government makes it a 7 day holiday by moving the prior weekend and the upcoming one together with these 3 days. This is the Chinese government’s “holiday economy” policy. Avoid visiting Beijing and China during the week-long holiday.

Annual Events and Festivals

1. The Chinese Men’s Health Day 中国男性健康日
The Chinese Men’s Health Day falls 28 October which was inaugurated in the year 2008.  A variety of activities will be carried  in cities across China to mark the special occasion. 

2. Cold Dew on Oct 8 寒露
One of the 24 solar terms in China, White Dew,  is the 15th solar term of the year, staring this year on Oct 08. White Dew singals the real beginning of cool autumn.

3.  Double Ninth Festival 重阳节
Also known as the Chongyang Festival, it takes place every year between October 1 and October 30 on the 9thday of the 9th lunar month; it falls on October 14 this year. it is a traditional folk holiday focused on good health and longlife, with various festivities.

November Events,Holidays & Festivals

November, a particular transit time from autumn to winter in Beijing. Now you may want to know what’s the weather like in November in Beijing, the activities and holidays in November Beijing can offer and any benefits for visiting Beijing in November.

Add on 
How to Visit Beijing in November
Beijing November Realtime Weather Photos

Annual Events and Festivals

1. China Journalists’ Day  记者节
China Journalists’Day falls on 08 November which was  inaugurated in the year 2000.  It is one of three holidays marked for professions in China. Journalists still work on this special day just as nurses and teachers on their own holidays.

2. National Fire Protection Publicity Day 全国消防日
This day falls on 9 November which was inaugurated  1992.

3. Skiing Activities (滑雪活动)
Later December, some ski resorts in Beijing start to offer avid skiers with clean clothes  and comfortable

4. Start of Winter 立冬
Start of Winter is one of the 24  solar terms in China, meaning that winter has begun and all things start to rest. Its climate also changes from the dry autumn to rainy cold winter. This year Start of Winter falls on November 7, 2021.

5. Light Snow on November 22 小雪
It begins to snow but can’t accumulate a lot on the ground. Light Snow is one of the 24  solar terms in China.

December Events, Holidays& Festivals

Most people choose to visit Beijing in Autumn or spring, but there are some who would like to travel Beijing in December, not just because of Christmas holiday…

Add on:

How to Visit Beijing in December
Beijing December Realtime Weather Photos

Annual Events and Festivals

1. National Legal Publicity Day 全国法制宣传日
The National Legal Publicity Day falls on 4 December which was inaugurated in 2001.  It is aimed at promoting the constitution sprite as well as building a harmonious society in China.

2. Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre 南京大屠杀纪念日
This special day falls on 13 December.  The museum’s official name is called the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders (侵华日军南京大屠杀遇难同胞纪念馆). The museum tells the overwhelming atrocities of raping, killing, burning and looting committed by the Japanese forces of aggression during the six weeks from December 13 to January, 1938.

3.  Ski Resorts in Beijing 北京滑雪场
Visiting a ski resort is a bonus added to make a perfect winter holiday in Beijing. No matter you are a keen skier or non-skier, you can rewind and entertain yourself in a ski resort around Beijing, skiing and participating in snow activities, or just sitting in a cozy snack bar and appreciating the white ski area over a cup of coffee or tea.

4. New Year Eve Ceremony 新年之夜欢庆
Each year the local tourism bureau will hold a fantastic “New Year Celebration” on the eve of the coming new year in a unique way.  Turn to a local travel agency or visit the tourism bureau’s official website for the new year celebration.

5. Heavy Snow on December 7 大雪
It begins to snow heavily. Heavy Snow is one of the 24  solar terms in China.

6.Winter Solstice on Decmber 21 冬至
One of the 24 solar terms in China, it has the shortest daytime of a year. After the day, many places in China go into the coldest period.


Tip:  Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go for self-guided tours and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for guided tours to Beijing:

Beijing Day Tour
Beijing Tour Package
Great Wall Tour
Beijing Tour
Beijing Winter Tour
Car Rental in Beijing
China City Tours
China Tour

Further Readings


Best Time to Visit Beijing
How to plan a trip to Beijing

Top 10 Attractions in Beijing
Top 10 Tourist Scams Beijing
How to Visit Tiananmen Square
How to Visit Forbidden City
How to Visit Temple of Heaven
How to Visit Summer Palace
How to Visit Ming Tombs
How to Visit the Great Wall of China
How to Visit Hutongs
How to Visit Olympic Sites

Top 10 Markets in Beijing
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Beijing
Beijing Shopping

Wangfujing Snack Street
Qianmen Commercial Street
Beijing Huguosi Street

Any questions, just drop a line.


4 thoughts on “Top Events, Holidays & Festivals in Beijing Each Month 2023

  1. We’ll be visiting Beijing from 6th May to 10th May. Are the dates ok for tourist. Our intention is to see flower like tulips, peach, etc. is the International Flower Port full of tulips at this time? Is Zhongzhan tulip park still in full bloom? Which location is the best for accommodation and how do we travel around.

  2. Dear Ben Ng,

    1. The period from 6th May to 10th May is a very good time for visiting Beijing. Check out the link below :
    https://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/beijing-tour-reviews/beijing-in-may-beijing-weather-in-may

    2. Yes, Zhongzhan tulip park is still in full bloom.

    3. Best Place to see peach flowers is in Pinggu District, Beijing. See the link below:
    https://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/the-best-place-to-view-peach-flowers-in-beijing

    4. As for where to stay in Beijing, please check out the link below:
    https://www.tour-beijing.com/hotel/where_to_stay_in_beijing.php

    5. How to travel around Beijing? Check out the links below:
    https://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/how-to-visit-beijing-in-one-day
    https://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/how-to-visit-beijing-in-two-days
    https://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/how-to-visit-beijing-in-three-days

    Have a nice time in Beijing!

  3. We’ll be visiting Beijing late September, is it a good time to visit Beijing during mid-autumn festival? We have two elderly and one toddler with us, so we need to plan Accordingly. If so, When is exactly the mid-autumn festival, where we can visit for enjoying the festival, and which hotel is recommended to stay during that time.
    We also have family occasion in Tangshan on oct 5, which is during National Holiday. We plan to g there from Tianjin by Train. I realize the crowds will be inevitable, but maybe you can give us some tips how to avoid it or at least facing less crowds during our travel.
    Thank you

  4. Dear Lulu,

    1. Mid-autumn Festival 2018
    September 24, 2018. We have a three-day holiday for the festival ( Sept 22 – 24, 2018 ). Yes, it is a good time to visit Beijing during the festival. But the three-day holiday will see crowds of domestic tourists in the major attractions in Beijing.

    2. Places to visit during the festival.
    No big difference visiting Beijing during the festival in the daytime. But in the evening there are some places to hold special ceremonies to celebrate the moon festival. All these events or activities depend on the weather conditions. If cloudy or rain, most of the activities will be cancelled or dampened.

    It is too early to say where you can enjoy the festival. But basically the following places are nice to enjoy the moon festival:

    Summer Palace
    Jingshan Park
    Beihai Park
    Temple of Heaven.

    3. Where to stay in Beijing
    You may check out the link https://www.tour-beijing.com/hotel/where_to_stay_in_beijing.php for more information.

    4. Avoid the crowds
    It is not easy to avoid the crowds.
    1) Try to book your train tickets in advance
    2) Get up early for the early train

    Enjoy your trip!

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