This is an important festival in the Chinese calendar. It is celebrated between late January and mid-February. Marking the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year, this is a time when Beijing is at its most colourful. People decorate their shops and homes with messages of good fortune and paste protective images of gods at their doorways to scare away evil spirits. Firecrackers, drum banging and colourful costumes are prevalent throughout the course of the two-week festival.

This is an important festival in the Chinese calendar. It is celebrated between late January and mid-February. Marking the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year, this is a time when Beijing is at its most colourful. People decorate their shops and homes with messages of good fortune and paste protective images of gods at their doorways to scare away evil spirits. Firecrackers, drum banging and colourful costumes are prevalent throughout the course of the two-week festival.

The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival which is also called ‘duanyang’, ’double 5th’ or ‘duanwu’ ,is celebrated during the period of May and June. The origins of today's festival are more often connected to the great patriotic and literary figure Qu Yuan. On the day of the festival, people mark the anniversary of his death by eating zongzi, a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. Boat races are also a part of the festivities.

The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival which is also called ‘duanyang’, ’double 5th’ or ‘duanwu’ ,is celebrated during the period of May and June. The origins of today's festival are more often connected to the great patriotic and literary figure Qu Yuan. On the day of the festival, people mark the anniversary of his death by eating zongzi, a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. Boat races are also a part of the festivities.

The Beijing Music Festival has already become a significant date for Beijing's music fans. Held in late fall, the festival is staged at various venues throughout the capital. Each year more than 1,000 domestic and foreign musicians take part in approximately 30 performances, ranging from individual vocalists and instrumentalists to symphony orchestras.

The Beijing Music Festival has already become a significant date for Beijing's music fans. Held in late fall, the festival is staged at various venues throughout the capital. Each year more than 1,000 domestic and foreign musicians take part in approximately 30 performances, ranging from individual vocalists and instrumentalists to symphony orchestras.

The Lantern Festival or Yuanxiao Jie, marks the end of the Spring Festival and falls on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar. The festival is all about Chinese red lanterns. Some have poems and verse on them, while some have pictures. It is customary during the Lantern Festival for people to enjoy various kinds of lanterns and lots of outdoor fun. Eating yuanxiao or sweet dumplings is another custom. They have many flavors such as sugar, walnuts, sesame, peanuts, beans, chocolate or fruit.

The Lantern Festival or Yuanxiao Jie, marks the end of the Spring Festival and falls on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar. The festival is all about Chinese red lanterns. Some have poems and verse on them, while some have pictures. It is customary during the Lantern Festival for people to enjoy various kinds of lanterns and lots of outdoor fun. Eating yuanxiao or sweet dumplings is another custom. They have many flavors such as sugar, walnuts, sesame, peanuts, beans, chocolate or fruit.