1. Nadam Fair of the Mongol

Date: July or August every year
Place: Inner Mongolia
Activities: Horseracing, wrestling, archery etc.

Remark: In Mongolian, Nadam means "recreation or game". The festival is a traditional gathering of Mongol in Inner Mongolia, held in July or August annually when the pastures are at their greenest, and usually lasts three to ten days. The festival is celebrated with horseracing, wrestling, archery and other competitions as well as theatrical performances. Agricultural products, by-products, native products and animal products from different prefectures are exchanged at the fair.

During the festival, tourists may participate in horse racing, archery, a recreation of an imperial banquet of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), local wedding ceremonies, a memorial ceremony at the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, tours highlighting Mongolian customs and a visit to the hot spring forest.

2. The Torch Festival of the Yi Minority in Liangshan, Sichuan Province

Date: July 23-28
Place: Sichuan Province
Activities: Bullfighting, horse races, cockfighting, sheepfighting, singing contests, Yi minority beauty contest, wrestling, local-style dance contest, torch parade and bonfire party.

3. Tibetan Shoton Festival of Tibetan

Date: August (from the end of the sixth month to the early part of the eighth month of the Tibetan calendar)
Place: Lhasa, Tibet
Activities: The Shoton Festival is also known as the Yogurt Banquet Festival. It is one of the grandest festivals in Tibet. During the festival, traditional Tibetan operas will be performed and various materials fairs will be held.

4. Water-Splashing Festival

Date: The Near Year's day on the Dai calendar, usually in the middle April.
Place: Yunnan province
Activities: It is a festival of the Dai people and usually lasts for 3-5 days. Ceremonies are held to pray in Buddhist temples and clean dust off Buddhist statues. Peacock dance is performed, and dragon-boat racing and other sports competitions are organized. People sprinkle water on each other as an expression of good wishes.

5. Tibetan New Year

Date: January 1st on Tibetan calendar
Place: Tibet
Activities: Special ceremonies are held on the day. On the eve of the festival, every household will paint lucky signs with wheat flour on kitchen walls and gates. Resin is burned on the roof, while painted seedlings of cereal crops and ears of wheat are displayed in the house. The first day of the festival is for family reunion. On the second day, people will go to call on their relatives and friends. The festival is also observed with wrestling, horseracing, archery and other sports competitions. Grand groups dancing and Tibetan operas are performed.

6. The Great Prayer Festival

Date: January 8th through 14th on the Tibetan calendar
Place: The Jokhang Temple, Lhasa
Activities: It is the grandest religious festival in Tibet. Thousands of monks far and near will gather for prayers, theological debates and examination for Geshe, a doctoral degree in Buddhist theology, at the lamasery. Pilgrims will come from everywhere to listen to sermons.

7. Noroz Festival

Date: Around March 22nd.
Place: Xinjiang
Activities: The festival is held among the Kazak minority group. As an interesting activity in the festival, a game called Girl-chasing is held. While roaming from the start point to the end on horseback, boys can play jokes with girls or even confide their love. Girls shall not get sulky. While on the way return, girls on horseback will chase after boys. If a girl catches up with a boy, she whips him, while he is not allowed to fight back. If the girl likes the boy, she will just wave her whip in the air.

8. Horse Race Festival in Qiangtang

Date: The last 10-day period of August (between the end of the seventh month and the early part of the eighth month of the Tibetan calendar)
Place: Nakchu Prefecture, Tibet
Activities: Horse races, archery shooting races, horsemanship performances and material exchange activities will be held.

9. Knife-Pole Festival

Date: February 8th on the Lunar calendar, usually in March.
Place: Yunnan province
Activities: It is a traditional festival of the Lisu minority group. On the eve before the festival, usually brave warriors will dance and jump in the fire barefoot. The most fascinating activity during the festival is to climb up 20-meter-high poles inserted with 36 or 72 sharp knifes. Performers will have to climb barefooted in a thrilling act.

10. The Butter Lamp Festival

Date: January 15th on the Tibetan calendar
Place: The Jokhang Temple, Lhasa
Activities: Unique butter lamps exhibition and nightlong singing and dancing.