Qingming Festival

Qingming literally means "clear and bright". The day heralds a season of rising temperature and increasing rainfall, high time for plowing and sowing. Qingming Festival or Tomb-sweeping Day falls on April 5 of the Western calendar. This year people will enjoy a public holiday from April 5 to 7 (Friday to Sunday). 

Qingming Festival is also one of the Chinese Twenty-four Solar Terms. The festival is closely related to agriculture. It is not only a seasonal symbol but also a day of paying respect to the dead, a spring outing, and other activities.  

There are many traditions during the festival, including tomb sweeping, a spring outing, wearing willow branches, riding on swing, playing tug-of-war, and flying kites. The festival combines sadness and happiness. 

Check out the following recommended places or events in Yueyang to spend an unforgettable Qingming Festival!

Events:

2nd Yueyang Cherry Blossom Tourism Culture Festival

On the morning of March 25, the 2nd Yueyang Cherry Blossom Tourism Culture Festival kicked off at a cherry blossom garden in Yueyang County. The blooming season will last for 40-50 days. >> Full Story

Best Places to See Canola Flowers

As spring comes, canola flowers start to bloom around Yueyang suburbs. Visitors can appreciate the flowers while enjoy a feast of local delicacies. >> Full Story

Scenic spots:

Yueyang Tower

Standing on the bank of Dongting Lake in the northwest of Yueyang City, Yueyang Tower, along with the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan and the Prince Teng's Pavilion in Nanchang, is one of the three great towers in south of the Yangtze River. It used to be a watchtower for the soldiers garrisoning the city gate and taking a test. >> Full Story

Shiniu Village National Geopark

Situated at Pingjiang County, Yueyang, Hunan, the Shiniu Village National Geo-park is the biggest among all the newly-discovered Danxia landform in China. The Danxia landform refers to various landscapes found in southeast and southwest China that “consist of a red bed characterized by steep cliffs”. It is a unique type of petrographic geomorphology found in China. Danxia landform is formed from red-colored sandstones and conglomerates of largely Cretaceous age. Shiniu village scenic area lies at the cross of Hunan, Sichuan and Jiangxi Province, which is 65 kilometers away from Changsha. >> Full Story

Junshan Island

Junshan Scenic Area-the largest island in Dongting Lake, is also called the "Love Island". It is made up of 72 peaks, covering a total area of 960 square meters. Junshan is the 11th blessing land under heaven and has been listed as the national AAAA scenic area. The main tourist attractions on the island include Liu Yi's Well, Tombs of the Two Empresses, Mottled Bamboo, Dragon's Saliva Well, and Xiangfei Temple. >> Full Story

Chinese source: yueyang.gov.cn;