China Qingming Festival 2025

When is it Celebrated?

Qingming Festival is observed annually on April 4 or 5, depending on the solar calendar. It marks the fifth solar term, signifying the start of brighter, warmer days.

Qingming Festival Historical Data (2023 - 2027)

Know about the Complete List of Public Holidays in China this year including National and Regional holidays.

Purpose

The festival focuses on remembering and honoring ancestors, maintaining family ties and celebrating the changing of seasons. It serves as a bridge between tradition and modernity, where families reconnect with their past while welcoming new beginnings.

How Is It Celebrated?

Qingming Festival blends ritualistic, familial and outdoor activities:

• Tomb-Sweeping Rituals (扫墓, Sǎomù) – Families visit ancestral graves to clean tombstones, place fresh flowers, burn incense and make food offerings such as fruit, rice and tea.
• Paper Money & Symbolic Offerings – People burn joss paper (spirit money) and sometimes paper replicas of houses, cars and electronics to ensure ancestors have wealth and comfort in the afterlife.
• Flying Kites (放风筝, Fàng Fēngzhēng) – In some regions, flying colorful kites is a Qingming tradition believed to ward off bad luck and bring blessings.
• Springtime Outings (踏青, Tàqīng) – Families take advantage of the fresh air by going on picnics, hiking or visiting parks, making it both a day of remembrance and renewal.
• Eating Special Foods – Traditional foods include Qingtuan (青团), a sweet green rice ball made from glutinous rice and mugwort leaves, which symbolizes health and vitality.

History

Qingming Festival dates back over 2,500 years to the Zhou Dynasty. It evolved from the Cold Food Festival (寒食节, Hánshí Jié), where people refrained from using fire and only ate cold meals in memory of a loyal official, Jie Zitui, who tragically perished in flames. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) later institutionalized tomb-sweeping rituals, solidifying the festival as an annual custom.

Focus & Activities

• Ancestral veneration – Maintaining the bond between the living and deceased.
• Outdoor appreciation – A time for families to enjoy nature and fresh air.
• Spiritual reflection – Honoring the past while embracing new growth.

Facts

• The name "Qingming" means "clear and bright", reflecting the fresh, vibrant atmosphere of spring.
• It is a public holiday in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.
• Some families pour tea or alcohol on tombstones as a sign of offering and respect.
• Qingming is one of the few Chinese holidays that does not follow the lunar calendar, instead aligning with the solar calendar.

Modern-Day Celebrations

While the core traditions remain, many families digitally honor ancestors by lighting virtual incense and offering prayers online. Environmental concerns have also led to eco-friendly paper offerings and alternatives to burning incense.

What Do People Do?

Families visit graves, clean tombstones, make food offerings, fly kites, eat traditional foods and enjoy nature. Though the day is rooted in mourning, it also fosters unity and renewal.