WildChina Beijing offices are closed on Friday, April 5th for Qingming Festival! Read on to learn more about this Chinese holiday…
Iridescent-hued kites shaped like characters from popular Chinese Opera plays adorn the clear skies.
Willow branches hang from the windows of your favorite local jiaozi eatery.
With origins dating back more than 2,500 years to the Tang Dynasty, Tomb Sweeping Day, also known as the Qingming Festival, is China’s version of Mexico’s Day of the Dead.
A traditional Chinese festival held on the 104th day after the winter solstice, this national holiday is dedicated to taking time off from one’s busy schedules to remember and honor the dead. Families clean the graves of fallen loved ones, pray, and offer flowers, food, and light incense.
Not only is the Qingming Festival a day to honor the dead, but it is also one to celebrate life. Take the day to indulge in life itself – perhaps a serene and picturesque walk along the clear Houhai Lake.
The green is greener, the blue bluer, and the aromatic scent of newly blossoming flowers fill the air. Keep your ears open for the music created by the cool breeze that flows through the willow trees. Reward your stomach with endless amounts of delectable “momo”, or steamed bread as multicolored kites and magical lanterns light up the dark night sky.
_____
We’ll be back in the office as usual on Monday, April 8th. In the meantime, if you have questions about China’s festivals or traveling in China, send us an email at info@wildchina.com!
