1. Zigong Lantern Festival (China)

Time: January – March (from the Lunar New Year to the Lantern Festival) Location: Zigong City, Sichuan Province Highlights: Viewing lanterns during the Spring Festival is a traditional Chinese custom, and the Zigong Lantern Festival epitomizes this with its dazzling displays. Known for the saying “Enjoy Zigong Lanterns, Celebrate the Chinese New Year”, this festival bridges the real and virtual worlds with its spectacular array of colorful lanterns. It features a mix of lantern displays, amusement parks, dining, entertainment, cultural performances, and interactive online and offline experiences. The festival creates an immersive “story-driven + gamified” lantern event, blending tradition with innovation, and promises a brilliant new chapter for nighttime tourism.

2. Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival (China)

Time: January Location: Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province Highlights: The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is the longest-running ice and snow festival in the world. It features spectacular displays including the Harbin Ice and Snow World on the Songhua River, large ice sculptures at Stalin Park, snow sculpture exhibitions on Sun Island, and grand ice lantern displays at Zhaolin Park. The festival encompasses major celebrations such as the New Year, Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, and the Ski Festival, making it a vibrant, multi-layered event. Activities during the festival include winter swimming competitions, ice hockey games, snow soccer matches, alpine skiing invitational events, ice sculpture contests, international ice sculpture competitions, speed skating races, poetry readings, ice and snow photography exhibitions, book fairs, ice and snow film festivals, and even ice weddings.

3. Hung Kings Festival (Vietnam)

Time: 10th day of the 3rd lunar month Location: Phu Tho Province Highlights: Every March, millions of Vietnamese and international visitors gather for the Hung Kings Festival, one of Vietnam’s largest annual cultural and religious events. The festival includes the important “Procession to the Hung Kings Temple”, reflecting the Vietnamese tradition of honoring their ancestors. The event features a Cultural Tourism Week with activities such as cultural camps, exhibitions, performances by local and folk artists, displays of world heritage documents, books, newspapers, and photographs, as well as traditional rice cake making and pounding contests, spring opera performances, and swimming competitions.

4. Songkran Festival (Thailand)

Time: April 13th to 15th Location: Throughout Thailand, including popular tourist cities such as Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai, and Phuket Highlights: Thailand’s New Year celebration, Songkran, is renowned for its water festivities. Water is believed to be the purest substance in the world by Thai people and splashing water is viewed as a process of cleansing and purification. During Songkran, people use various tools—buckets, water guns, hoses, and even plastic bags—to splash water on each other. This tradition is meant to wash away bad luck and misfortune, bringing good fortune and cleanliness for the new year. Participants also apply white powder to each other’s faces, exchange greetings and blessings, and revel in the joyful atmosphere of the festival.

5. Seoul Friendship Festival (South Korea)

Time: April May Location: Seoul Plaza and along the Han River Highlights: The Seoul Friendship Festival is a grand cultural celebration held in the capital city, Seoul, showcasing the city’s rich history and vibrant culture. The festival features programs themed around natural culture and a variety of traditional Korean performances. Alongside the main festival, events such as the Seoul Food Festival, Seoul Magic Festival, and Korean Traditional Music Festival are held, allowing visitors to choose and participate in their favorite activities based on their interests and schedules.

6. Gion Festival (Japan)

Time: July Location: Kyoto Highlights: The Gion Festival is an annual festival in Kyoto, Japan, renowned as one of the largest and most famous festivals in the country. It is one of the top three summer festivals in Japan. The main shrine of the festival is Yasaka Shrine, and the celebrations run from July 1st with the “Kippu-iri” ritual to July 29th, spanning a month. Each district in Kyoto prepares and showcases elaborately decorated floats, which participate in the grand procession through the city.

7. Nagaoka Fireworks Festival (Japan)

Time: August Location: Niigata Prefecture Highlights: As one of Japan’s top three fireworks festivals, the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival spans two days with thousands of fireworks each night. Highlights include the massive “Sanjakudama” with a diameter of about 650 meters and the “Reconstruction Phoenix Fireworks,” which spans approximately 2 kilometers. These colossal fireworks light up the night sky, creating a breathtaking spectacle. The festival draws around one million spectators annually, offering an unparalleled scale and impact.

8. Loy Krathong Festival (Thailand)

Time: November Location: Chiang Mai Highlights: The Loy Krathong Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival, is one of Thailand’s most meaningful and mythological celebrations. Held right after the rainy season, it is a time when the rivers are full and the moonlight is beautiful. According to Thai tradition, people release floating lanterns and sky lanterns to honor the river god and wish for good weather and peace in the coming year. The floating lanterns are typically made from banana tree trunks and decorated with leaves, flowers, incense, and candles.

9. Orchard Road “Christmas on a Great Street” (Singapore)

Time: November – January Location: Orchard Road Highlights: Celebrating Christmas in Singapore goes beyond just the holiday itself. The highlight of the season is the grand Orchard Road “Christmas on a Great Street”. Orchard Road transforms into a dazzling display of lights and decorations. Additionally, there are three Christmas villages featuring amusement rides and games, including a two-story carousel, a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, claw machines, pirate ships, and various shooting and basketball games. This festive extravaganza offers a joyful and immersive holiday experience for all visitors.

10. Hoi An Lantern Festival (Vietnam)

Time: Monthly (14th day of the lunar month) Location: Hoi An Ancient Town Highlights: The Lantern Festival in Hoi An takes place on the 14th day of each lunar month. During the festival, the entire town is adorned with colorful lanterns made of silk and bamboo. Locals write their wishes and prayers on the lanterns and release them into the river, symbolizing their hopes and happiness. Visitors can engage in various activities such as lantern-making, releasing river lanterns, and enjoying traditional performances, making it a vibrant and enchanting experience.