New Years Day: while the traditional Chinese New Year does not occur for another month, Hainan observes the celebrations of the western calendar with a nationwide holiday and typical get-togethers with family and friends.

Spring Festival: this is the traditional celebration of the beginning of the new lunar year and Hainan’s observance of this important period is as conscientious as in all of China’s mainland regions. Traditionally family and friends meet to exchange gifts, eat festive dumplings known as Jiaozi and set off firecrackers before heading out to see the street festivities which include Chinese dragon dances and large firework displays. The date of this festival varies each year on account of the lunar calendar.

Ethnic Li-Miao Festival: held annually on the third of the month, this popular event is conducted by ethnic peoples of the Li and Miao tribes and sees singing, dancing, campfire parties and dragon boat displays on the river. Various shows and contests are held and make for lively and entertaining spectacles.

Lantern Festival: also known as the Yuanxiao Festival, the lantern festival is celebrated across China and is held in recognition of the end of the New Year period. Citizens of the island of Hainan, hang brightly coloured lanterns from city buildings and domestic dwellings alike which, when lit at night, give the cities a truly romantic ambience which can be appreciated while enjoying the popular sticky rice dumplings known as Yuanxiao.

Qingming: this traditional Chinese festival is held for the purpose of allowing families to visit the graves of their loved ones; paying their respects and making the effort to clean them of any debris that might have gathered. Offerings of wine, food and flowers are made by family members in tribute to the memories of the deceased.

Dragon Boat Festival: this annual event is the country’s oldest festival and the third most important in the lunar calendar. Citizens of Hainan take to the water in ornately decorated dragon boats to compete in an exciting race that is made more exciting by the sounds of drummers encouraging the boats to row faster.

Qi Qiao Jie: this relatively low-key festival is perhaps the Chinese equivalent of Valentine’s Day and is a chance for lovers to make merit by paying tribute to the old Chinese folk legend of Niu Lang and Zhi Nu. The unmarried women of the island make offerings of fruit in the hope that a successful marriage will come their way.

Longevity Culture Festival: Held bi-annually in the city of Sanya, the Longevity Culture Festival is an event that focuses on living life to the full and for as long as possible. Activities during the festival focus around sport, health and travel and include the popular climbing of Nanshan Mountain. Singing and dancing play a significant role and help generate the atmosphere of positivity and joviality that is typical of the festival.

Mid Autumn Festival: this annual affair is one of the most important in the Chinese lunar calendar and is celebrated on the 15^th day of the eighth lunar month. Various festivities including traditional singing and dancing are conducted, while families like to bake seasonal cakes in moon shapes which they pack with sweet fillings and gather to enjoy together.

The Sanya Sailing Race: held annually in November and attracting sailing fans from all over the world, the Sanya Sailing Race brings together boating enthusiasts for a colourful gala in Dadonghai Bay. Boats compete against each other but this is one event where the taking part is definitely more important than the winning.

Christmas: as Hainan is a popular tourist destination, you will find Christmas celebrated with some degree of enthusiasm although by no means to the extent that you will find in western countries. Shops and restaurants hang decorations and play Christmas music and the latter add festive western food dishes to their menus.