China Qufu International Confucius Culture Festival

China Qufu International Confucius Culture Festival is now being held in the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong Province. It is one of the largest celebrations for commemorating Confucius, a great ideologist, educator and the founder of the Confucian school. Qufu City holds commemorative activities from September 26 to October10 at the Confucius Temple every year, totaling 15 days. The main activities include the inauguration ceremony, at which large-scale ancient music and dances to commemorate Confucius will be performed; large activities to offer sacrifices to Confucius by the people from all walks of life; large theatrical performances with the characteristics of the homeland of Confucius and Mencius; and economic and trade talks. The Qufu International Confucius Culture Festival has attracted attention of the international market, and has been warmly welcomed by domestic and foreign tourists.

China Tourism Art Festival and Guangdong Happy Festival

China Tourism Art Festival and Guangdong Happy Festival are held from September to October in Guangzhou City. Many Chinese and foreign theatrical troupes are invited to perform at the festival while people, artists and local citizens share a happy time together. During the festival, people may do shopping and taste local snacks, and participate in tourism display and business exchange activities.

Hubei Shennongjia Ecological Tourism Festival

Sponsored by Hubei Tourism Administration and the Shennongjia Forest District People's Government, Hubei Shennongjia Ecological Tourism Festival will be held in October and last for nearly one month. There would be a series of exciting experience waiting for you, including paying a visit to the virgin forests, doing rock-climbing, cycling at mountain-slope, drifting along the river, climbing Shennong Range, participating in the bonfire evening party, staying at farmers' home and tasting farmers' food.

Yangtze River Three Gorges International Tourism Festival

In its ninth year, the Yangtze River Three Gorges International Tourism Festival kicked off on September 10th and will last through October. The festival features a large number of tourist activities designed to promote the New Three Gorges and the cultural elements along the Yangtze River. Activities include tours of the New Three Gorges, a tourism trade fair, and an international photography competition. On October 1st, National Day, organizers will erect a giant flag.

Sep. 18 – Oct. 7: Shennu tourism and cultural activities in Wushan County.

Sep. 20 – Oct. 20: Exciting tour of Chongqing and the Yangtze River.

Sep. 21 – Oct. 22:  Large-scale commercial exhibition in Chongqing's Yuzhong District.

Sep. 27 – Oct. 31: Chongqing Qianjiang Wuling Mountain national cultural activities.

Wuhan International Tourism Festival

2004 China Wuhan Yellow Crane Wine International Tourism Festival kicked off on September 28 and runs until October 7. A splendid musical performance and fireworks show are scheduled for October 1. Large numbers of Brazilian, Russian, and North Korean performers will be participating. Other activities during the festival include: a horse racing competition, Gourmet Week, and Education and Ecology Tour Week.

Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous region has a number of activities occurring during the National Day holidays. These include the Huhehaote Tour Photography Exhibition, the Erjina Golden Autumn Ecology Tour Festival, and the Xiangsha Bay Tourism Festival.

Gansu Province

National Day week activities in Gansu focus on sightseeing tours, with five main ones to choose from. There's the "Red Tour," which exposes you to the Red Army. There's a tour of a geologically interesting park. And there are three other tours, each focusing on different scenic landscape spots.

Shandong Province

A large number of new scenic sights are set to open in Shandong in time for National Day, including: Zibo Guanzhong Memorial, Shentong Mountain Forest Park, Penglai Ocean Park, and the Laiwu battlegrounds and the destroyed railway. There are also a number of activities in various cities of the province planned, including: the Yellow River Cultural Art Festival, the China Jiaxiang Stone Carving Festival, the Weishan Lake Folk Customs Ecology Festival, the Dezhou Gourment Braised Chicken Festival, and the Jinan Motorboat Tournament.

Shanghai Tourism Festival

The Shanghai Tourism Festival kicked off on Nanjing Road on September18 and will last nearly three weeks. The festival will heavily promote China's first F1 grand prix, also occurring in Shanghai at the end of September, as well as the city's other charms. The festival will include a number of events and activities to be held across the city, such as: a grand parade, skydiving demonstrations, brilliant fireworks accompanied by music, souvenir expositions, and live street performances.

Beijing International Tourism Culture Festival

The 7th annual Beijing International Tourism Culture Festival opened on September 20 and will run through National Day week. This year's themes are: Festival, Jubilation, Olympics, and Tourism. Grand performances will be held during the festival, displaying various customs and cultures from around the world. Festival organizers also hope tourists become more familiar with the lives of Beijing's citizenry. During the festival, tourists will be able to watch Chinese operas and even visit the homes of some Beijing residents.

Shenyueshu Hall in the Temple of Heaven Reopens on National Day

Shenyueshu Hall will reopen on October 1, National Day, on a trial basis after two years of reconstruction. First built during the Ming Dynasty, it is one of the five main structures in Beijing's Temple of Heaven temple complex, and played an integral role in the ancient worship rituals held at the temple. It was also one of the best institutions of music learning during dynastic times. Inside visitors can expect to find bronze statues of famous musicians from Chinese history as well as various kinds of musical instruments used in the past.

(CRI.com September 30, 2004)