Travellers visiting Wuhan in China are enthralled by its ability to demonstrate its old world charm intermingling with modernity. Wuhan is peppered with a number of attractions tailor-made for ardent explorers and is truly an intriguing place to visit for, regardless of when you visit this region, there will always be various festivals and events that allow tourists a valuable insight into the beautiful culture of the area. If you are thinking about visiting Wuhan early next year, the Chinese New Year celebrations are not to be missed! Join in the festivities as the locals’ herald the dawn of the New Year according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar with colourful dragon dances and rituals as well as the lighting of beautiful fire crackers and fireworks …

Festivals are unique expressions of a community’s or a country’s cultural traditions. There are seasonal festivals determined by lunar calendars and cycle of the seasons and festivals rooted in religious beliefs. People in Tianjin celebrate many such festivals that have been a part of their culture and beliefs for a very long time. Along with the whole of China, Tianjin celebrates the Spring Festival on Feb 13th, the first day of the first lunar month that is also Chinese New Years’ eve. Family members return home, exchange hongbao or red envelopes with money, remember their ancestors, give their houses a thorough clean up and partake of specially made holiday food. Dragon and lion dances, lantern parades, temple fairs are part of the festivities highlighted by …

Hong Kong is very much a modern cosmopolitan city but its predominantly Chinese heritage means that a number of Chinese festivals are enthusiastically celebrated. Even in this modern age, the people of Hong Kong adhere to ancient customs, celebrating festivals by visiting temples, engaging in or watching lion and dragon dancing, and burning large amounts of incense. One of the most popular and widely celebrated occasions for the people of this city is the distinctive Tin Hau Festival. Also known as the Birthday of Tin Hau, this festive occasion occurs on the third month’s 23rd day on the lunar calendar; its date on the Western calendar in 2014 is the 22nd April. Tin Hau is in fact the Goddess of the Seas and is also …

As Good Friday and Easter Sunday are public holidays in Indonesia, Bali simply heaves with visitors both local and foreign who come here to enjoy the extraordinary packages offered by hotels and restaurants around the island. Flights from Australia to Jakarta are full to capacity as many try to get to Bali to enjoy the festivities as much as the sun, sea and sand. Since Bali has had Christian enclaves going back several hundred years there are many Catholic, Protestant and churches of other denominations in many parts of the island. Locals and visitors alike who are desirous of beginning the day with a religious ceremony can attend services both in English and Indonesian at St Francis Xavier Church in Kuta, St Josephs in Denpasar, …

For all Sinhalese and Hindus, April is all about festivity. From the end of March even the environment seems to feel this heart-warming change. The trees look much greener with flowers blossoming covering up every inch making it look like Mother Nature’s decorations done specially for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. To add to this beautiful site, the sound of the cuckoo bird can be heard as the background music throughout this special time. While nature gets ready to celebrate this festival in its own way, the people in Sri Lanka too start adding their contribution to enhance the excitement. Everything is done according to an auspicious time, so when the time gets closer the astrologers in the country get together to give the …

The much anticipated Sinhala and Tamil New Year is one of the most vibrant festivals celebrated in the island nation of Sri Lanka. As its name suggests the festival is observed by both of the two largest communities in Sri Lanka. Falling on the 14th of April this festival is closely linked to the local astrological traditions which regulate the event. Overall the new year celebrations can be seen to be a complex blend of Buddhist, Hindu, astrological and other indigenous traditions. Many of the new year customs, rituals and festivities are thought to have originated as celebrations marking the completion of the harvest. After the arrival of Buddhism the existing customs were modified in the light of the new religion. Many interesting festivities are …