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Shenyang’s event calendar is built around two poles: a long winter ice and snow festival, and a summer beer festival, with the standard Chinese holidays (Chinese New Year, National Day) filling the gaps. Most events are free to attend or cheap, and they cluster at Qipanshan, Beiling Park, and the city’s central squares. Here is the Shenyang events and festivals calendar, with dates and locations. See our Shenyang weather by month for more.
Shenyang Events and Festivals: Winter
Shenyang International Ice and Snow Festival
Runs from late December through February, with the main venue at Qipanshan and satellite displays in Beiling Park and Zhongshan Square. Expect ice sculpture galleries, snow mazes, and a short ski season. Entry to the sculpture areas is typically 50 to 100 CNY. Night visits are the highlight, when the ice is lit from inside. See our best time to visit Shenyang for more.
Chinese New Year
Falls in late January or February depending on the lunar calendar. Zhongjie hosts temple-fair style stalls, and Beiling Park runs lantern displays. Most restaurants and smaller shops close for at least the first three days, so confirm opening hours before you plan meals. Hotels and trains are at their busiest and priciest all year. See our things to do in Shenyang for more.
Shenyang Events and Festivals: Spring
Beiling Park Blossom Season
Late April, when plum, magnolia, and apricot blossoms open across Beiling Park and the grounds of Zhaoling. The park is free to enter and the flower beds draw large local crowds on weekends. Go on a weekday morning to avoid them. See our Shenyang neighborhoods for more.
Labour Day Holiday
May 1 to 5 is a national holiday and the busiest domestic travel week of spring. The Mukden Palace, Fuling, and Zhaoling all run extended hours but also their biggest crowds. Book trains and hotels at least two weeks ahead. See our where to stay in Shenyang for more.
Shenyang Events and Festivals: Summer
Shenyang International Beer Festival
Held in July and August, usually in a park or riverside venue, with dozens of beer brands, food stalls, and live music each evening. Entry is often free with drinks and food paid separately. Dates shift year to year, so check locally. July and August are also the wettest months, so bring an umbrella. See our Shenyang travel tips and FAQ for more.
Qingming and Dragon Boat Festival
Qingming (early April) and Dragon Boat (late May or June) are quieter public holidays when locals visit family tombs or eat zongzi. Attractions stay open, and crowds are lighter than the big October and February holidays, making these decent windows for sightseeing. See our Shenyang travel guide for more.
Shenyang Events and Festivals: Autumn
Qipanshan Lantern Festival
Runs from mid-September into October at Qipanshan, with large lantern installations, a night market, and performances. Tickets run 50 to 80 CNY. It pairs well with the autumn foliage season, which peaks around mid-October in the same area.
National Day Golden Week
October 1 to 7 is the biggest travel week in China. Every attraction in Shenyang is crowded, hotel prices double or triple, and high-speed rail seats sell out. Avoid the week unless you have a specific event to attend, and book everything a month ahead if you must travel then.
