Festivals & Events

1. 春節

   tshen1 ciq7

   Spring Festival (Lunar New Year)

   Usage

   Lunar New Year, the biggest holiday of the year in Shanghai too, when families get together

   Grammar Note

   春節 is a Shanghainese word.

2. 除夕

   zy6 zhiq8

   Lunar New Year's Eve

   Usage

   The day before Lunar New Year; families share the New Year's Eve dinner at night

   Grammar Note

   除夕 is a Shanghainese word.

3. 年夜飯

   gni6 ya6 ve6

   New Year's Eve reunion dinner

   Usage

   The dinner the whole family eats on Lunar New Year's Eve

   Grammar Note

   年夜飯 is a Shanghainese word.

4. 新年好

   shin1 gni6 hau5

   Happy New Year

   Usage

   A greeting for the Lunar New Year, said to people you meet

   Grammar Note

   新年好 is a Mandarin-origin name read with Shanghainese character readings. 好 means "good"; the phrase is a simple New Year greeting.

5. 恭喜發財

   kon1 shi5 faq7 ze6

   Wishing you prosperity (New Year greeting)

   Usage

   A congratulatory phrase exchanged at the New Year

   Grammar Note

   恭喜發財 is a Shanghainese word.

6. 拜年

   pa5 gni6

   Pay New Year visits

   Usage

   Visiting relatives and friends to give New Year greetings

   Grammar Note

   拜年 is a Shanghainese word.

7. 壓歲錢

   aq7 soe5 zhi6

   New Year money for children

   Usage

   Money in a red envelope that adults give to children at the New Year

   Grammar Note

   壓歲錢 is a Mandarin-origin name read with Shanghainese character readings.

8. 元宵節

   gnioe6 shiau1 ciq7

   Lantern Festival

   Usage

   The 15th day of the first lunar month, with sweet rice balls and lanterns at places like Yu Garden

   Grammar Note

   元宵節 is a Shanghainese word.

9. 清明

   chin1 min6

   Qingming (Tomb-Sweeping Day)

   Usage

   A day in early April for visiting graves; in Shanghai people eat green rice balls

   Grammar Note

   清明 is a Shanghainese word. 清明 is also one of the 24 solar terms.

10. 掃墓

    sau5 mu6

    Sweep the graves

    Usage

    Cleaning and visiting ancestors' graves around Qingming

    Grammar Note

    掃墓 is a Shanghainese word.

11. 端午節

    toe1 ng6 ciq7

    Dragon Boat Festival

    Usage

    The fifth day of the fifth lunar month, with rice dumplings and dragon-boat races

    Grammar Note

    端午節 is a Shanghainese word.

12. 粽子

    tson5 tsy5

    Zongzi (sticky-rice dumpling)

    Usage

    Sticky rice wrapped in leaves, eaten at the Dragon Boat Festival, with meat or sweet fillings in Shanghai

    Grammar Note

    粽子 is a Shanghainese word.

13. 賽龍舟

    se5 lon6 tseu1

    Dragon boat race

    Usage

    The boat race held at the Dragon Boat Festival

    Grammar Note

    賽龍舟 is a Mandarin-origin name read with Shanghainese character readings.

14. 七夕

    chiq7 zhiq8

    Qixi (Double Seventh Festival)

    Usage

    The seventh day of the seventh lunar month, known as a Chinese day for lovers

    Grammar Note

    七夕 is a Mandarin-origin name read with Shanghainese character readings.

15. 中秋節

    tson1 chieu1 ciq7

    Mid-Autumn Festival

    Usage

    The 15th day of the eighth lunar month, for moon-gazing and mooncakes

    Grammar Note

    中秋節 is a Shanghainese word.

16. 賞月

    saon5 yoq8

    View the moon

    Usage

    Admiring the full moon on Mid-Autumn night

    Grammar Note

    賞月 is a Mandarin-origin name read with Shanghainese character readings.

17. 重陽節

    zon6 yan6 ciq7

    Double Ninth Festival

    Usage

    The ninth day of the ninth lunar month, for honouring the elderly, with Chongyang cake

    Grammar Note

    重陽節 is a Shanghainese word.

18. 臘八

    laq8 paq7

    Laba Festival

    Usage

    The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, when people eat Laba porridge

    Grammar Note

    臘八 is a Shanghainese word.

19. 冬至

    ton1 tsy5

    Winter solstice

    Usage

    The winter solstice in late December; in Shanghai people traditionally eat wonton

    Grammar Note

    冬至 is a Mandarin-origin name read with Shanghainese character readings.

20. 龍華廟會

    lon6 wa6 miau6 we6

    Longhua Temple Fair

    Usage

    A spring fair around Longhua Temple, full of stalls and worshippers

    Grammar Note

    龍華廟會 is a Mandarin-origin name read with Shanghainese character readings. 廟會 means a temple fair.

21. 豫園燈會

    yu6 yoe6 ten1 we6

    Yu Garden Lantern Festival

    Usage

    Lanterns decorate the Yu Garden area from Lunar New Year to the Lantern Festival

    Grammar Note

    豫園燈會 is a Mandarin-origin name read with Shanghainese character readings.

22. 上海旅遊節

    zaon6 he5 liu6 yeu6 ciq7

    Shanghai Tourism Festival

    Usage

    A tourism event held each autumn, with parades and shows

    Grammar Note

    上海旅遊節 is a Mandarin-origin name read with Shanghainese character readings.

23. 上海國際電影節

    zaon6 he5 koq7 ci5 di6 in5 ciq7

    Shanghai International Film Festival

    Usage

    A film festival held around June each year

    Grammar Note

    上海國際電影節 is a Mandarin-origin name read with Shanghainese character readings.

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