All’s Fair During Chunjie: Beijing's Temple Fairs

One essential element of Spring Festival in Beijing is the traditional Temple Fair (miao hui, 庙会). These festive jubilees set up in parks and temples around the city, and commonly feature song and dance performances, displays of traditional arts and artisans, markets selling all manner of baubles and crafts, fairground-style games stalls, and all the food you can stuff yourself with. Beijing’s temple fairs are colorful, noisy and fun – perfect for a day out with family or friends.

Changdian Temple
Fair Beijing’s biggest, most famous, most influential traditional temple fair, Changdian’s attractions include handmade craft displays and performances including shadow puppets and acrobatics. This year Beijing’s fair of fairs has relocated to Taoranting Park from its traditional venue at Nanxinhuajie. Hopefully it will be as riotous as ever. Price TBA. 8.30am-5pm (Feb 14-20).
19 Taiping Jie (near National Ballet of China), Xuanwu District. (6353 2385) 陶然亭公园, 宣武区太平街19号
Getting there
Subway: Get off at Taoranting station on Line 4.

Chaoyang Park Temple Fair
This is traditionally designated as the “international” temple fair, and this year’s continues in that tradition with a twist. The first day on Chinese lunar calendar of 2010 falls on Valentine’s Day, giving Western countries a perfect opportunity to promote their romantic side in China. Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and Russia are among the nations cooperating with Chaoyang Park this year to create a love-themed Valentine’s Day-style temple fair. RMB 5.
9.30am-5pm (Feb14-19). 1 Nongzhan Nanlu, Chaoyang District. (6506 5409) 朝阳公园, 朝阳区农展馆南1号
Getting there
Subway: Get off at Tuanjiehu station on Line 10 and walk east.

Shijingshan Temple Fair
Unlike other temple fairs around town, Shijingshan’s is full of foreign scenes, sounds and foods. Celebrate the exotic! Perhaps as a result, this fair is said to draw many foreigners. Nothing goes with foreign like foreigners. RMB 10.
8.30am-5.30pm (Feb 14-21). 25 Shijingshan Lu, Shijingshan District. (6886 2547) 石景山游乐园, 石景山区石景山, 25号
Getting there
Subway: Get off at Bajiaoyouleyuan station on Line 1.

Yuanmingyuan Royal Temple Fair
In the Qing dynasty, this old summer palace was once among the most bustling places in China during Spring Festival. This year, Beijing is attempt¬ing to reproduce something of the atmosphere and experience of an im¬perial-era royal temple fair at the same venue they used 200 years ago. The temple fair will feature showcases of the Qing emperors’ customs, cuisine, leisure and academic activities, and more. In case that is not enough of a draw, Guinness world record-holders are also part of the show, appearing to perform their unique skills. RMB 10.
8.30am-5pm. (Feb 10-20). 28 Qinghua Xilu, Haidian District. (6256 3659) 圆明园, 海淀区清华西, 28号
Getting there
Subway: Get off at Yuanmingyuan station on Line 4.

Olympic Park Temple Fair
Instead of merely devouring snacks and watching ethnic performances as at a traditional temple fair, here you can practice yoga, try boxing or rock climbing under the instruction of coaches, or watch an auto-stunt show. This innovative sports-themed program was designed by the Chinese National Olympic Center, to remind people that athletic activities are just as great as sumptuous festival food, and great in tandem. Free. (Feb 13-19).
Olympic Park, Beichen Lu, Chaoyang District. (8499 2008/2137) 国家体育场, 朝阳区北辰, 奥林匹克公园
Getting there
Subway: Get off at Olympic Green on Line 8.

Daguanyuan Temple Fair
This temple fair takes over parts of both the inside and outside area of Beijing Grand View Garden (Daguanyuan), with drummers, costumed parades, acrobatics and other ethnic and cul¬tural performances. RMB 20 (adults), RMB 15 (advance). 8am-4.30pm (Feb 14-18).
12 Nancaiyuan Xijie, Xuanwu District. (6354 4993) 大观园，宣武区南菜园12号
Getting there
Bus: Lines 19, 49, 59, 61, 122, 351, 410, 414, 716, 816, 819, 922 and 937. Get off at Daguanyuan.

Ditan Temple Fair
One of Beijing’s biggest and most popular fairs, with hundreds of food stalls and a packed entertainment schedule with a variety of performances. RMB 10. 9am-5pm (Feb 13-20).
Ditan Park, 2A Anding¬menwai Dajie, Dongcheng District. (6421 4657) www.dtpark.com 地坛公园，东城区安定门外大街甲2号
Getting there
Subway: Get off at either the Anding¬men or Yonghegong stations on Line 2.

Dongyue Temple Fair
Held within a centrally-located Daoist temple, Dongyue’s fair boasts a huge number of food stalls, with cultural exhibitions and ethnic performances. RMB 10. 8.30am-4.30pm (Feb14-20).
141 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (6551 0151) 东岳庙，朝阳区朝阳门外大街141号
Getting there
Subway: Get off at Chaoyangmen station on Line 2 and walk about 600m east.