Temple fair time starts

Spring Festival does not just mean a break from work and an opportunity to reunite with the family, but also an occasion to join the crowds and enjoy a moment of fun at a temple fair. Here's where to go in and around Beijing.

The literary one

The elegant gardens of Daguanyuan, featured in the great Chinese masterpiece The Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin, will come alive during Spring Festival with red lanterns, silk flowers and a temple fair. As a result of featuring in the book, the fair builds on the book's theme through dancing and singing. For example, the traditional Chinese acrobatic wire walking show mimics the episode of drunken Grandma Liu.

Additionally, crowds can have their faces painted in the makeup of Peking Opera, they can watch shadow puppets and can buy decorative paper cut by folk artists. Human statues and dragon dances will also feature, as will wax printing, which is a traditional Chinese handicraft.

Address: No.12 Nancaiyuan Jie, Xuanwu district

Tel: 8355-2933

Admission: 40 yuan

Opening hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (from January 23 to 27)

The big one

Due to its traditional temple location, the temple fair at Ditan Park has become the most famous in Beijing. The park is divided into sections along the themes of performing, interacting and exhibiting. For the performing part, 200 displays of national relics, such as ethnic minority dancing and singing, will be presented throughout the eight-day fair. There will also be a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) style parade every day from 10 am.

Temple fairs are good hangouts for big eaters, with Ditan being no exception. Among the many food stalls, people can buy traditional Beijing snacks such as chatang (gruel of millet flour and sugar)and bao du (boiled lamb tripe).

Last but not least, the popular Taiwanese folk performance dianyin santaizi, which features a group of three men dressed up in Nezha costumes (a character from Chinese mythology), will showcase here for the first time.

Address: No.2 Andingmen Waidajie, Dongcheng district

Tel: 6421-4657

Admission: 10 yuan

Opening hours: 6 am - 9 pm (January 22 to 29)

The berry one

From January 25 to 30, a strawberry-themed temple fair will be held at Xingshou town in Changping district. Three kilometers away from the North Sixth Ring Road, Xingshou produces vast amounts of strawberries in its 4000-odd greenhouses.

As implied, eating and buying strawberries are the main focus. People can also enjoy a strawberry photography competition, while children can have fun by drawing strawberries in the graffiti room established for them.

In addition, there will be performers walking on stilts and various other shows to ensure all have a berry good time.

Address: Shouxing town (3 kilometer north from the sixth ring road), Changping district

Tel: 6172-6118

Admission: free

Opening hours: all day between January 25 and 30

Tips:

The various ice festivals around town will also feature temple fairs. For more information on those, please refer to our story "Snown away" from January 9.

It will save you hassle to take public transport or cycle instead of driving to any of the temple fairs.

We recommended you visit the temple fairs right at the start or end to avoid huge crowds.

Watch out for your belongings as temple fairs can attract thieves.