Local Festivals

2 min read

The different ethnic groups on Hainan Island live together in harmony. The ethnic minorities not only enjoy the major traditional Chinese festivals such as Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-autumn Festival, but also have their own festivals as well. For example, the Sanyuesan Festival is the local Li and Miao festival. It is celebrated in the spring, on March 3rd (the lunar calendar) and provides unmarried young people an opportunity to find their loved ones. On that day the young boys and girls from nearby settlements get together in bright and attractive clothing. They hold hands and sing songs, do Bamboo PoleDancing, and have their dates in houses that are shaped like boats. The ladies wear”canister-skirt”and both they and the men eat rice cooked in a bamboo-pipe and drink homemade Shanlan wine. Some other festivals include the Flower Exchange Festival in Fucheng Town and Folk Songs Competition Festival in Danzhou during the Mid-autumn Festival and so on.

Several modern festivals aimed solely at tourists have been established since Hainan became a province in 1988. These include the Nanshan Longevity Culture Festival, Sanya International Wedding Ceremony, and Hainan Island Carnival. The last festival is an annual comprehensive international public festival held by the government and the Tourism Bureau of Hainan every November. It originated in 2000 as part of nationwide efforts to promote “Hainan International Tourism Island of China”. The Hainan Carnival has become one of the biggest and most enjoyable and joyful festivals, not only for the people in Hainan, but also for Chinese and foreign tourists visiting the island as well. During the many festivals staged on Hainan, such as the Miss World/Universe beauty pageant, the participants, including internationally famous film stars, share their happiness with the local people and tourists.