There are 49 ethnic minorities living in Guizhou. These ethnic people celebrate more than 1,000 ethnic festivals throughout the year.
China Highlights has listed the following ethnic festivals worth attending while visiting Guizhou.
1. Sisters Meals Festival
Kaili, Apr. 12 to 14, 2025
Sisters Meal FestivalSister's Meal Festival is celebrated in southeast Guizhou province. It is a traditional festival of the Miao people. On that day, Miao girls give four-color rice to the man they love as a present. It is considered the oldest "Valentine's Day" of China.
Details for Sisters Meals Festival
2. Lusheng Festival
Kaili, Feb. 15 to 17, 2025
Lusheng FestivalThe lusheng is a traditional Chinese reed instrument. Lusheng Festival in Kaili, Guizhou is the most influential and grandest of the Miao ethnicity festivals.
The girls dress up in their best costumes and symbolic silver headdresses, while the boys carry their lusheng to play at the Lusheng Stadium.
3. Dragon Canoe Festival
Shidong, May. 31, 2025
Dragon Canoe Festival is one of the four important traditional festivals of the Miao people. Large-scale traditional activities are held during the festival, including dragon boat races, canoe races, and post-race events.
4. The Miao New Year Festival
Leishan, Jan. 21, 2025
New Year of Xijiang Miao VillageDifferent from traditional Chinese New Year, Miao New Year is often celebrated after the rice harvest, and usually lasts 5–15 days. People worship their ancestors, play the lusheng (a reed instrument), and visit their neighboring villages during the festival.
Note: Festival dates provided below are for reference only. They are subject to change for various reasons, including weather conditions. If you plan to see or participate in the festivals, it is recommended that you contact our travel advisors for the most up-to-date information.
Guizhou Festivals Calendar for 2025
| Guizhou Festivals Calendar 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Festivals | Dates in 2025 | Main Activities | Venues | Participants | |
| Lusheng Festival (芦笙节) | Feb. 15-17 | Lusheng dance, singing and bull fighting | Zhouxi Town, Kaili City (凯里市舟溪镇) | Celebrated by Long Skirt Miao (长裙苗), about 20,000 participants | |
| Lusheng Festival (芦笙节) | Oct. 28 | Horse racing, bullfight, lusheng dance and market | Chang'an Riverside, Huangping County (黄平县重安江) | Celebrated by Miao minority, about 20,000 participants | |
| Double Third Festival (三月三) | Mar. 31 | Lusheng dance, singing and meeting | Baojing Town, Zhenyuan County (镇远县报京乡) | Celebrated by Buyi minority (布依族), about 10,000 participants | |
| Sisters Meal Festival (姊妹饭节) | Apr. 12-14 | Market, singing, lusheng dance and eating sisters meal | Shidong Town, Taijiang County (台江县施洞镇) | Celebrated by Miao minority (苗族), about 10,000 participants | |
| Song Festival (卯节) | Middle May | Dancing, singing and bull fighting | Jiuqian Town, Sandu County (三都县九阡) | Celebrated by Shui minority (水族), about 5,000 participants | |
| April-Eighth Festival (四月八) | May. 5 | Horse racing, bull fighting, singing, lusheng dance and meeting | Feiyun Ya, Huangping County (黄平县飞云崖) | Celebrated by Miao minority, about 15,000 participants | |
| Dragon Boat Festival (龙舟节) | May. 31 | Dragon boat racing, market, singing and dancing | Shidong Town, Taijiang County (台江县施洞镇) | Celebrated by Miao minority, about 30,000 participants | |
| Double Sixth Festival (六月六) | Jun. 30 | Singing and playing music with leaves | Suburban Area of Zhenfeng County, Southwest Guizhou Prefecture (黔西南州贞丰县郊区) | Celebrated by Buyi minority， about 10,000 participants | |
| Miao New Year Festival (苗年) | Nov. 5 | Singing, dancing and meeting | Kaili City and Leishan County (凯里市、雷山县) | About 50,000 participants | |