Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is not only a natural wonder but also a cultural treasure trove. Throughout the year, the city and its surrounding ancient villages host a vibrant calendar of festivals and events that showcase Huizhou culture, folk traditions, and modern entertainment. This guide covers the major annual events, updated for 2026-2027, so you can time your visit to experience the cultural heartbeat of the region.

1. Huangshan Tourism Festival (黄山旅游节)

The Huangshan Tourism Festival is the region‘s signature cultural event, organized annually to promote Huangshan’s tourism and cultural heritage. It is recognized as one of Anhui Province‘s three major branded festivals.

2026 Update: The 28th Huangshan Tourism Festival opened on the evening of April 2, 2026, at the Tangmo Scenic Area in Huizhou District. The festival carried the theme: “Enjoy the magnificent Huangshan in spring · Seek the millennium Huizhou in the midst of everyday life” (赏春天里的大美黄山·寻烟火中的千年徽州).

What to Expect:

During the festival period, various districts, counties, and key cultural tourism enterprises across Huangshan City roll out a series of spring-themed experience activities. These are typically organized around six thematic categories: sightseeing spring, chasing spring, tasting spring, awakening spring, exploring spring, and playing in spring — covering flower viewing, traditional crafts, local cuisine, and folk performances.

Previous Edition (2025): The 15th Anhui International Culture and Tourism Festival (which serves as the broader provincial framework for the Huangshan Tourism Festival) opened on November 15, 2025, featuring an opening ceremony with live scenes and digital imagery highlighting Huizhou culture and Huangmei Opera. The event included an inbound tourism conference, a technology-empowered cultural tourism development conference, and a cultural tourism industry chain对接 conference. South Korea was invited as the guest country of honor.

Travel Tip: If you‘re visiting in spring (late March to early April), check the official “Huangshan Tourism Official Platform” for the exact dates and program of the Tourism Festival — it’s an excellent opportunity to experience the region‘s culture beyond the mountain trails.

2. Tunxi International Dragon Boat Race (屯溪国际龙舟赛)

The Dragon Boat Race in Tunxi has evolved from a traditional folk activity into a major international sporting event. In recent years, it has been integrated into the Yangtze River Delta Green Mountains and Clear Waters Games (长三角绿水青山运动会), a regional sports tourism brand initiated in 2022.

2026 Event: The 5th Tunxi International Dragon Boat Invitational Race took place on June 13, 2026, at the Xin‘an River waters off Tunxi Hejie Wharf. The race featured 24 dragon boat teams with nearly 400 athletes from China, the United States, France, Pakistan, Côte d‘Ivoire, and other countries.

Race Format:

• Categories: International Group and Yangtze River Delta Group

• Distances: 200-meter and 500-meter straight sprint races

Festival Atmosphere:

The day began at 8:00 AM with a Dragon Boat Festival folk culture performance. Beyond the races, a series of sideline activities — branded “Encounter Dragon Boat Festival · Wellness Xin‘an” — featured fun games, intangible cultural heritage (ICH) craft demonstrations, and live-streamed agricultural product promotions.

A notable innovation was the ”Event Passport,” a small booklet that allowed athletes and spectators to enjoy half-price entry to scenic spots and dining discounts throughout Tunxi.

Travel Tip: The Dragon Boat Festival follows the lunar calendar (5th day of the 5th lunar month), which typically falls in June. In 2027, it will fall on June 9. If you‘re in Huangshan during this time, head to the Xin’an River waterfront in Tunxi to watch the races and soak in the festive atmosphere.

3. Chongyang Temple Fair (重阳庙会 / Linxi Temple Fair)

The Chongyang Temple Fair is a traditional folk fair held annually in Linxi Town, on the outskirts of Tunxi. It runs for three days, with the main day falling on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month (Chongyang Festival).

What Happens:

On the main day, people from surrounding villages gather to pay respects to the Zhou Wang Bodhisattva (周王菩萨), bringing agricultural products, sideline goods, and handicrafts for trade. During the fair, stages are set up for opera performances that run from sunset to sunrise, continuing all night.

Modern Evolution:

Since the founding of the PRC, the temple fair has evolved into a genuine agricultural and sideline products trade fair. The 2025 fair (held October 28–November 1) featured everything from traditional farm tools and flower plants to modern food snacks, clothing, toys, and home decorations — catering to visitors of all ages.

Travel Tip: The Chongyang Festival usually falls in October. If you‘re visiting Huangshan in autumn, the Linxi Temple Fair offers a lively, authentic glimpse into local rural life — a perfect complement to the mountain’s golden foliage.

4. Hui Yun (徽韵) – The Ultimate Huizhou Cultural Show

Hui Yun (徽韵) is a large-scale multimedia modern song-and-dance production that brings Huizhou culture to life on stage. It is performed at the Xiangming Theater (香茗大剧院) in Tunxi District.

Venue & Facilities:

The theater covers 8,000 square meters and was built over nearly two years at a cost of nearly 100 million RMB. It features a 176-square-meter full-color LED screen (8 meters high × 22 meters wide), five sets of立体 movable升降 stages, a rain curtain system, and 1,500 regular seats plus 22 VIP seats.

Performance Details:

Five Acts:

The show blends dance, acrobatics, modern Hui opera, Peking Opera, flower-drum lantern dance, and folk song medleys. Stage effects include magic light arrays, rain curtain systems, fog lift systems, imported lasers, large-scale waterfall platforms, and underwater rising moons.

Travel Tip: Hui Yun is the perfect evening activity after a day of hiking or sightseeing. Book tickets in advance — especially on weekends — as the 1,500-seat theater can fill up quickly. Ticket prices typically range from 118 RMB (C section) to 158 RMB (A section).

5. Additional Seasonal & Cultural Events

Beyond the major festivals above, Huangshan and its surrounding ancient villages host a variety of other events throughout the year:

Practical Tips for Festival-Goers

Which Festival Should You Choose?

Huangshan‘s festivals and events offer a window into the region’s rich cultural heritage that goes far beyond the mountain‘s natural beauty. Whether you’re watching international dragon boat teams race on the Xin‘an River, wandering through a lively temple fair in Linxi, or sitting in the Xiangming Theater watching 1,500 years of Huizhou history unfold on stage, you’ll discover that Huangshan is not just a mountain — it‘s a living culture.