Shigatse Festivals and Activities
Tibetan Festivals are traditionally based on Tibetan calendar. Most of the Tibetan festivals on the Tibetan plateaus are deeply influenced by Buddhism or rich ancestral culture. During the festivals, all the people wear traditional costume and perform different traditional dances and ritual activities. Festival is the best way to experience the diverse culture and tradition of the local and their ethnic affinity. Here below are some festivals and activities in Shigatse worth to experience.
Festivals in Shigatse
Besides some Chinese traditional festivals, like Spring Festival(usually in late Jan. or early Feb.; Jan 25, 2020) and Mid-Autumn Day(The fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month; September 13, 2019), Shigatse is rich in ethnic and religious festivals.
| Date | Festivals | Notes |
| 1st Jan in Tibetan Calendar | Tibetan New Year(藏历新年) | Mon, Feb 24, 2020- Wed, Feb 26, 2020; Tibetan ethnic minority |
| 15th Jan in Tibetan Calendar | Butter Lamp Festival(酥油花灯节) | Tibetan ethnic minority |
| 30th Jun in Tibetan Calendar | Shoton Festival/Shaifo Festival(雪顿节/晒佛节) | August 30- September 5, 2019; Tibetan ethnic minority; Tashilhunpo monastery |
| 15th May in Tibetan Calendar | Linka Festival(林卡节) | In June or July of Gregorian calendar; Panchen New Palace |
| Early July in Tibetan Calendar | Karma Dunba/Bathing Week of Tibetan(沐浴节) | August 16- August 23, 2018; Tibetan ethnic minority |
| August 2-4 in Tibetan Calendar | Tiaoshen Festival(跳神节) | September 11- September 13, 2018; Tibetan ethnic minority; Tashilhunpo monastery |
| April 10-28 in Tibetan Calendar | Dama Festival(达玛节) | Around June in Gregorian calendar; Gyantse county; Religious activities |
| In July/August of Tibetan Calendar | Wangguo Festival(望果节) | National Intangible Heritage; Tibetan people celebrate harvest |
| In August | Bullfighting Festival(斗牛节) | Bailang county; Tibetan ethnic minority |
| 4th Jan in Tibetan Calendar | Monlam Prayer Festival(传昭大法会) | Religious festival in Tibet; Tibetan ethnic minority |
Activities in Shigatse
As a popular tourist destination, Shigatse offers various kinds of recreative activities. Visiting a Tibetan family, taking part in a Tibetan festival, watching a Tibetan opera, climbing Mount Everest, etc, you will feel the the charm of Shigatse personally.
| When | Activities | Notes |
| Mainly during major events and festivals | Tibetan Opera(藏戏) | National intangible cultural heritage; Rinbung county; Tashilhunpo monastery, Qiangqin temple |
| Mainly during major festivals like Tiaoshen festival | Qiangmu Dance of Tashilhunpo Monastery | National intangible cultural heritage; Tashilhunpo monastery |
| / | Dance of Sherpa Ethnic People | Traditional folk song and dance of Tibetan Sherpa people; Dinggyê County; National intangble cultural heritage |
| The best time to travel to Everest base camp in Tibet is April to June and September to October | Climbing Mount Everest | Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world with an elevation of 8844.43 meters. Thousands of people make their expedition from far away to explore the splendid looks of "The Third Pole". |
| All the year round | Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery | Founded by the First Dalai Lama in 1447, Tashilhunpo Monastery is one of the six big monasteries in Tibet. Tashilhunpo remains popular among the Tibetans, as they carry on coming here on pilgrimage. |
Keep Reading
