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Leshan follows the Chinese lunar calendar for its biggest events, so exact dates shift year to year. The standouts are the Dragon Boat Festival races on the Min River, one of the largest in China, and the Giant Buddha Cultural Festival in spring. Here is the full annual calendar with locations and what to expect. To pick the best season overall, see the best time to visit Leshan guide.
Leshan Events and Festivals: Spring (February to May)
Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)
Held in late January or February, this is the year’s biggest holiday and the Giant Buddha area is packed. Wuyou Temple runs temple fairs with incense burning, folk performances and food stalls, and the riverside is lined with lantern displays. Expect heavy crowds and book the where to stay in Leshan well ahead, since rooms sell out across the city.
Lantern Festival
Falling on the 15th day of the first lunar month, usually February or March, this closes the New Year period. Lantern shows and riddle-solving stalls run along the river, and many restaurants serve tangyuan, sweet glutinous rice balls. It is a single-evening event, so it pairs well with a daytime visit to the Giant Buddha.
Leshan Giant Buddha Cultural Festival
Held on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, which falls in April or May, this celebrates the Buddha’s birthday with a ceremony at the statue and cultural performances across the scenic area. It draws Buddhist pilgrims as well as tourists, so the walking route is busier than a normal spring day.
Leshan Events and Festivals: Summer and Autumn (June to November)
Dragon Boat Festival
On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, usually June, Leshan hosts one of China’s grandest dragon boat races on the Min River near the Giant Buddha. Teams race traditional boats and, in the Leshan tradition, ducks are released into the water for rowers to catch. The races are free to watch from the riverside promenade, and local zongzi, glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves, are sold everywhere. This is the city’s signature public event.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, in September or October, this is a family holiday marked by mooncakes and evening gatherings. The riverside promenade is a popular spot for moon-viewing, and some hotels and restaurants host special dinners. Most events cluster around the riverside neighborhoods and the scenic area.
National Day Golden Week
October 1 to 7 is the single busiest week of the year in Leshan, with queues of two to three hours at the Nine Turns Plank Road and sold-out trains from Chengdu, so book rail tickets early (see the Leshan travel tips guide). It is a holiday rather than a festival, but worth planning around: arrive the week before or after for the same weather without the crowds.
Leshan International Tourism Festival
Held in October, this event showcases regional food, folk music and dance, and promotes the Leshan and Mount Emei UNESCO sites. Dates and scale vary by year, so confirm locally before making it a trip anchor. For the weather to expect during any of these months, see the Leshan weather by month guide, and browse the full Leshan guide for everything else.
