Dalian Festivals

 Dalian Spring Fireworks Festival
Period: 2nd to 8th, January depending on lunar calendar
Activities: Ice carving exhibitions, fireworks displays, acrobatic shows, folk art performances including ballad singings, story telling and locally-flavored snacks. This is a great festive event in the city and thousands of tourists both at home and abroad come to participate in it.

 Dalian Chinese Scholar Tree (Pagoda Tree) Blossom Affairs
Period: Later May (around 20th, May)
Activities: Dalian is reputed to be the City of the Scholar Tree and in May Scholar Trees blossom in the city. The Scholar Tree Affair is a big annual event in the city. Kite flying contests, folk dancing performances, Chinese painting and calligraphy displays are usually held. In the kite flying contest participants from over all the country bring all sorts of Chinese kites to compete. The Dalian Commodity Export Fair also falls in the period between 23rd and 28th May.

 Dalian International Beer Festival
Period: Begins from late July or August and lasts for half a month
Activities: This is a summer carnival held on Xinghai Square each year, which has been successfully held for seven years. Usually the opening ceremony begins with a parade of festooned vehicles and drum dancing groups. A variety of beer companies advertise new products by sponsoring activities including disco performances, beer culture exhibitions, beer drinking contests, photography contests, artwork displays and other festival events. It is a large celebration time for local people and foreigners alike. In 2009, the beer festival is expected to be held during 7th to 23rd of August.

 Dalian International Fashion Festival
Period: Early September
Activities: Dalian is at the forefront of the country's fashion industry. The International Fashion Festival is a highlight in the city in which thousands of dazzling celebrities, stars and artists both in China and abroad get together and present the top in fashion in the world. It is a good opportunity for clothes designers from western counties to communicate with their oriental counterparts.

 Dalian International Marathon Contest
Period: The last Sunday of October
Activities: It is a great event for sports lovers to challenge each other and compete. Participants come from China and other countries all over the world. Local people love sports and many famous track and field athletes grow in this energetic city. The first marathon contest in the city is launched in 1987 and held annually since then. Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen and Qingdao also have marathon contests, but only in Dalian Marathon Contest, the disabled can participate together with the physically capable people.

 Dalian International Hotspring and Skiing Festival
Period: December
Activities: Annual held in winter, the festival aims to explore Dalian's tourist market in winter. This year, it will be held for the second time from 18th December, 2008 to 26th February, 2009. Performances by skilled ski racers will be put in the opening ceremony. In addition to skiing competition, ice and snow carnival, hot spring health care, mountaineering, equitation invitational tournament and winter tour routes promotion, visitors can also go to the country fair to spend Chinese New Year with local people.