Music, art & literary festivals to keep an eye on

International Literary Festival (www.beijingbookworm.com) For two weeks in March, writers and bibliophiles from China and abroad converge on the Bookworm for one of the most popular cultural events of the year. Beijing Ninegates Jazz Festival (www.ninegate.com.cn) Local and international jazz acts are performed over two weeks in May or June. Beijing Music Festival (www.bmf.org.cn) Held in October, this classical-music festival brings in foreign orchestras and musicians for a month of concerts around town. Beijing Biennale (www.namoc.org, in Chinese) Staged at Beijing’s National Art Museum of China in odd-numbered years, this art showcase features both Chinese and foreign artists. It’s normally held in September or October. Colourful and shapely – it’s traditional to hang lanterns at Chinese festivals
RAY LASKOWITZ/LONELY PLANET IMAGES

JUNE, JULY & AUGUST

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY

Every 1 June is devoted to the kids, with under-14s getting a day off school. Expect queues at fast-food restaurants to be longer than usual, as parents treat their children.

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

Beijing’s lack of water makes it difficult for the capital to celebrate this festival in the same style as in places like Hong Kong, although reservoirs in the far suburbs sometimes host dragon boat races. But you will see people eating zongzi (delicious sticky rice with meat or vegie fillings wrapped in a bamboo leaf). Held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month (usually in June), the festival honours the ancient poet and official Qu Yuan.

ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDING OF CCP

No one gets a day off, but the founding of the Chinese Communist Party is celebrated on 1 July with plenty of enthusiastic flag waving at Tiananmen Sq.

ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDING OF PLA

There’s more official flag waving at Tiananmen Sq on 1 August to mark the founding of the People’s Liberation Army.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14