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China Events

Longqing Gorge Ice and Snow Festival

A magical winter wonderland provides a fun day out for locals and tourists alike at the three-day ice spectacle held annually north of Beijing. Try your hand at ice-fishing or one of numerous other ice or snow sports, and finish off the day marvelling at the intricately carved ice sculptures and ice lanterns on display, while fireworks turn the icy gorge into a colourful light show.

Venue: Longqing Gorge in Yanqing County, 56 miles (80km) north of Beijing
Date: 15 January to 29 February 2009

Moon Festival

One of China's most beloved cultural celebrations is the Moon Festival in autumn, marking the end of the harvest season. Main symbol of the festival is the baking and eating of Moon Cakes: round pastries with sweet fillings. In Shanghai the favourite filling is red bean paste. Houses are decorated with coloured animal-shaped paper lanterns and altars are piled with round fruits to symbolise the shape of the moon. The evening is spent moon-gazing and enjoying the company of family, before enjoying a feast at midnight.

Date: 3 October 2009

Chinese F1 Grand Prix

A new circuit in the Formula One Grand Prix, Shanghai's International Circuit welcomes the deafening noise, prestige, speed and the very best in motor racing that comes with such a spectacle.

Venue: Shanghai International Circuit
Date: 17 -19 April 2009
Website: www.icsh.sh.cn

Great Wall Marathon

The longest man-made structure in the world lends just a small portion of itself for one of the most gorgeous races in the world. The two races of 3 miles (5km) and 6 miles (10km) each take place in some of the hilliest parts of the famous wall and are sure to be a test for any of those undertaking the race.

Venue: Tianjin Province
Date: 16 May 2009
Website: www.great-wall-marathon.com

Beijing Music Festival

This event spans almost the entire month of October and features orchestras, opera houses and soloists from around the world. It is considered far and wide to be among the top five music festivals in the world.

Venue: Various venues in and around Beijing
Date: October 2009

Meet in Beijing Arts Festival

The "Meet in Beijing" Arts Festival transpires in and around the city starting in April/May annually and running on into the autumn months. Each year the festival takes on a different theme, this year's not surprisingly being "Five Rings of Art Blooming in Beijing". Nearly 10, 000 artists from 80 countries presented over 100 performances to an audience of an estimated two million and 2009 is expected to be ever bigger.

Venue: Various venues around Beijing
Date: April 2009 TBA

Chinese New Year in Beijing

Chinese New Year in Beijing is a noisy, colourful (and that's not just the fireworks) and busy occasion. Boys and girls on stilts, life-sized puppets and costumed carousers sing and dance in the streets. Not a whole lot of sleep is possible during this week of celebration. The Eastern Mountain Taoist Temple on the east side of the city hosts the New Year Temple Fair where one could find some respite from the revelling in the main hall, which features a Taoist orchestra playing traditional flutes and pipes.

Date: 26 January 2009

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