Nanjing Major Events & Festivals

Based on the dates in the Chinese Lunar Calendar, many traditional festivals and customs are celebrated in Nanjing, including the climbing of City Wall on January 16, bathing in Qing Xi on March 3, hill hiking on September 9, and others.But sadly many of such festivals are no longer really celebrated by the more modern Nanjing people.

Instead, Nanjing, as a popular tourist destination, hosts a series of government organized events throughout the year.The annual International Plum Blossom Festival held in Plum Hill, the largest plum collection in China, attracts thousands of tourists both domestically and internationally.Other events include Nanjing Baima Peach Blossom and Kite Festival, Jiangxin Zhou Fruit Festival, and Linggu Temple Sweet Osmanthus Festival.

The Jinling Festival also is called the lantern festival day or the lantern festival.It was said that the first lantern fair was held in this region in the reign of Hong Wu in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), when Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang ordered a spring lantern fair to be held to celebrate both the coming New Year and prosperity of the country. This tradition was passed down from generation to generation and reached its height in the Ming and Qing periods.

Each year from the first day of the lunar January the lantern fair celebration is held in the area surrounding Fuzimiao and the lantern festival lasts 10 days and on the eighth day of the Chinese New Year, people light a lantern and close up their shops at 6:00 pm

One of Nanjing's greatest folk holidays is the Plum Blossom Festival, which is held every year in late February or early March on Plum Hill. Plum Hill is reputed as the "First Plum Hill under Heaven" for it is one of the eight plum appreciation sights having the most variety, longest history, and one of the largest in China.

On the day of the Plum Blossom Festival, it is said that the Nanjing people are the happiest.On the eastern suburb lies the Plum Blossom Mountain. When the several thousand plum are in complete bloom, tens of thousands of Nanjing people walk up the plum blossom mountain to view the flowers and look at the scenery.

During the Plum Blossom Festival spectacular celebrations of blossom appreciation, show performances, cultural exhibitions and bazaar shopping are also held.

The climb to the top of the city wall takes place in the first lunar month on the 16th.This day Nanjing people all must enter the city with a family member or some good friends to visit scenic sites every year.The purpose of doing this is "to ward off bad luck and tread peace".

Cherry Blossom Festival

In late March, Xuanwu Park becomes a sea of cherry blossom and photography lovers and tourists throng to see the charming scenery.

Yuhuashi (Rain Flower Pebbles) Art Festival

Yuhuashi, a kind of rain flower pattern agate, is a very popular tourist souvenir.Each year in September, an art and cultural festival is held in Yuhuatai (Rain Flower Terrance) Scenic Area.Exhibition of precious agate stones and performances will be presented.

Flower Festival

Autumn is a blossom season in Nanjing when parks and gardens will hold flower festivals.For example, from September to November, a 300 meter long road in the Lingu Park will become a charming flower street with scented flowers along its length. Maples on Mount Qixia are amazing.

Hunan Road Annual Flavored Food Festival

Located in the northwestern part of the city in Drum Tower District (Gulou District), this one kilometers long street is one of the most prosperous shopping streets in Nanjing with the famous Shiziqiao Food Street in the middle. The street is always bustling with people and makes for an interesting evening with friends. An annual flavored food festival is held here to attract tourists.

This walking street is filled with dozens of restaurants providing both Chinese and western style foods. The street is divided into three parts. The first part has restaurants providing typical local cuisine, among which Shiwangfu Restaurant is the best. The second part is known as the Chinese Food Street where various cuisines from different parts of China are found. The third part is the area which has food from Japan, Korea, India, Thailand and the west.