Falling on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, the Chinese Valentine’s Day is steeped in folklore and legends. As per legend, this is the only day that the Weaving Maid, the 7th daughter of the Emperor of the Heaven (Star Vega) meets the orphaned cowherd that she fell in love with(constellation Aquila). The festival takes place with much celebration and the best way to fully experience the festival is by seeking appropriate Beijing accommodation. Ascott Beijing is a highly preferred luxury apartment in Beijing by many who have wandered this way with the aim of witnessing the fascinating array of festivals that it celebrates on a frequent basis. Also known as the Qi Qiao Jie, or the seventh eve, the Chinese Valentine’s Day …

Six decades ago, a young, enthusiastic and vibrant member of the royal house ascended the throne and continued as the monarch, watching her children and grandchildren grow up and prepare themselves to become rulers of the most celebrated imperial family. This year, the Buckingham Palace, the home of Queen Elizabeth, who celebrates sixty years of being at the helm, will open its doors to the public and convert its grounds to a dais upon which the United Kingdom portrays its originality and uniqueness to the world. The Coronation Festival 2013 is scheduled to take place from the 11th to the 14th of Julyand will be the epitome of British flair, local artistry, handicrafts and quintessential cuisine. This festival will showcase the advancements in British technology …

The City of London Festival, one of the UK’s premier art events, was first held in 1962 to rejuvenate the English capital’s cultural life. The grand festival is held every summer at high profile destinations throughout the city and lasts about twenty one days. Featuring an eclectic line up, many of the festival events are free to the public. The sheer diversity of events ensures that one will definitely find something interesting. The festival is a celebration of the city and is one of the biggest events on the calendar so tourists in London this summer should definitely try to stop by. The 2013 edition of the City of London Festival will take place between the 23rd of June and the 26th of July. The …

Getting bigger and better every year the Waiheke Winter Arts Festival will be held this year too in grand festivities in June. This year’s show will showcase new artists and new segments expanding the show’s horizons even further. Although Waiheke is a small community on a beautiful island it gives great focus to arts and crafts and has several studios featuring veterans and amateurs. The Queen’s birthday has been chosen as the best time this year to commence the arts festival. A wine and cheese event will be held at the end of the festival along with an auction of boxes painted by the artists themselves. Established in 1995 the Waiheke art gallery is dedicated to supporting the visual arts within the island. Managed by …

The well-known Bali Arts Festival is a month-long celebration of the traditional as well as contemporary arts, crafts, dance, music and performances of the Indonesian province of Bali. As the event is focused on the provincial capital of Denpasar, an enthralling array of Balinese artistes converge on the city to present their finest artistic creations. At this unique extravaganza, visitors will be able to witness dances from remote mountainous areas, long-forgotten and revived dance forms, classic palace dance presentations, renowned stars of the Balinese stage and innovative productions of the Denpasar dance schools as well as choreographic creations from other parts of Indonesia and abroad. The people of Bali take great pride in their cultural heritage. Even in remote villages, the outstanding artistes vie with …

Sri Lanka is a very mystical island that is home to a variety of faiths and spiritual practices. To explore and discover all these fascinating locales, a variety of travel companies offer some competitive Sri Lanka tour packages in which one can witness the best cultural offerings on the island. Some of the best holiday packages Sri Lanka offers come courtesy of Shanti Travel Sri Lanka and visitors are sure to enjoy a holistic travel experience when travelling with these folks. One of the most spiritual locations on the island is housed in the town of Kataragama, home to an immensely powerful holy trio from the Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim faiths. It is home to the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama devalaya, an important shrine dedicated to the powerful Kataragamadeviyo, also …