Xiamen Events and Festivals

Xiamen’s event calendar is anchored by its unique Mid-Autumn Festival bo Bing tradition, a mooncake gambling ritual practiced nowhere else in China. Beyond that, the city hosts one of the world’s most scenic marathons, a Dragon Boat festival on the sea, and a biennial piano festival on car-free Gulangyu Island. Here are Xiamen’s key annual events with dates, locations, and what to expect.

Xiamen Events and Festivals: Mid-Autumn Festival (Bo Bing)

The Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhongqiu Jie) falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, usually September or early October. In Xiamen, it eclipses even Chinese New Year in cultural significance thanks to bo Bing, a tradition dating back to the 17th century when Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) used dice games to boost troop morale. The rules: players take turns rolling six dice in a large porcelain bowl. Combinations of red fours determine the prize tier, from top-ranked zhuangyuan (six fours, winning the largest mooncake) down to yixiu (one four). Prizes are mooncakes of descending sizes. The game is played everywhere during the festival: offices, restaurants, hotels, and public squares. Major hotels like the Conrad Xiamen and Kempinski host public bo Bing events where visitors can join (check hotel websites in August for bookings). The streets fill with the sound of dice clattering in bowls, and mooncake shops do 40% of their annual business in this one week. Book accommodation well ahead if visiting during Mid-Autumn. See our Xiamen weather by month for more details.

Xiamen Events and Festivals: Xiamen International Marathon

Held annually on the first Sunday of January, the Xiamen International Marathon is a World Athletics Gold Label road race and one of China’s “Big Four” marathons alongside Beijing, Shanghai, and Dalian. The course follows the Island Ring Road (Huangdao Lu) for 42.2km with sea views for roughly 90% of the route, passing Baicheng Beach, Hulishan Fortress, and the 99-meter-tall marathon sculpture. About 35,000 runners participate. Registration opens in September-October via the official website (www.xmim.org) and fills within hours. International runners need to register early and provide a health certificate. The race starts at 8:00am from the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center. Even if you’re not running, the marathon transforms the coastal road into a spectator-friendly festival with live music stations and cheer zones. Expect road closures along the Island Ring Road from 6:00am to 2:00pm on race day. See our best time to visit Xiamen for more details.

Xiamen Events and Festivals: Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Jie) falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, usually in June. Xiamen’s main races take place in the Jimei district on the sea near the Dragon Boat Pool (Longzhou Chi), a dedicated racing waterway built by Tan Kah Kee in the 1950s. Teams from across Fujian and Southeast Asia compete in traditional long dragon boats holding 22 paddlers each. The event has a strong overseas Chinese connection: many teams come from Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, reflecting Xiamen’s history as a major port of emigration (many overseas Chinese trace their roots to Fujian). The races run for 2-3 days. Entry is free to watch from the shore. Vendors sell zongzi (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves), the festival’s traditional food. Take BRT Line 1 to Jimei School Village, then walk 15 minutes to the Dragon Boat Pool. See our things to do in Xiamen for more details.

Xiamen Events and Festivals: Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)

Chinese New Year (Chun Jie) falls between late January and mid-February depending on the lunar calendar. In Xiamen, the festivities include temple fairs at Nanputuo Temple with prayer ceremonies and vegetarian feasts, lantern displays along Zhongshan Road and in Bailuzhou Park, and fireworks over Yundang Lake on New Year’s Eve. Nanputuo Temple sees its biggest crowds of the year on New Year’s Day as locals burn incense and pray for good fortune. The temple opens at midnight on New Year’s Eve for “first incense” ceremonies. Practical notes: many smaller restaurants close for 3-7 days during the holiday. Gulangyu Island ferries run but with reduced frequency. Hotel rates are 2-4x normal. The upside is festive atmosphere and the chance to see Xiamen’s traditions at their most vibrant, including the unique Hokkien (Minnan) new year customs like the “heavenly god” ceremony (bai tiangong) on the 9th day of the new year. See our Xiamen neighborhoods for more details.

Xiamen Events and Festivals: Gulangyu Piano Festival

Held biennially in July or August on Gulangyu Island, this week-long classical music festival celebrates the island’s piano heritage. Concerts take place in the Gulangyu Concert Hall (a distinctive oval-shaped building near the ferry terminal), the Organ Museum, and outdoor stages set among the colonial villas. International pianists perform alongside Chinese musicians. The 2026 edition falls in even-numbered year rotation. Tickets for headline concerts range from 100-300 RMB (US$14-42) and sell through the Gulangyu Concert Hall box office. Even without tickets, the island atmosphere during the festival is special: you’ll hear piano music drifting from open windows of the music school as you walk the car-free lanes. The festival overlaps with summer tourist season, so book Gulangyu ferries well ahead. See our where to stay in Xiamen for more details.

Xiamen Events and Festivals: Xiamen International Tea Fair

Held annually in October at the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center, this is one of the world’s largest tea industry trade fairs. Fujian province is the heartland of Chinese tea production (Tieguanyin oolong, Da Hong Pao, and white teas all come from Fujian), and the fair draws producers, buyers, and enthusiasts from 50+ countries. The public days (usually the last 2 days of the 4-day event) are open to visitors and offer free tea tastings of hundreds of varieties. You can sample teas that sell for thousands of RMB per kilogram alongside everyday varieties. Entry is free with passport registration. The dates vary slightly each year but always fall in October. Check www.xiamenteafair.com for exact dates. See our Xiamen travel tips for more details.

Xiamen Events and Festivals: Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day)

Qingming falls on April 4 or 5 each year. In Xiamen, it’s marked by families visiting ancestral graves, burning paper offerings, and picnicking in cemeteries (a traditional practice). For visitors, it’s a cultural observation rather than a participatory event. The festival is a public holiday (1-3 days off), so expect slightly higher domestic travel volume. The weather in early April is typically pleasant (17-25°C), making it a good sightseeing period if you don’t mind sharing attractions with local holiday crowds.