Yinchuan folk festivals

Ningxia Yinchuan International Yellow River Cultural Festival

The China International Yellow River Cultural Festival has been held in Yinchuan in mid-September every year since 1991 and usually lasts for about 10 days.

"Ningxia is rich in the Yellow River in the world." Since ancient times, Ningxia and the Yellow River have had an indissoluble bond, and have formed a typical Yellow River culture. During the Yellow River Cultural Festival, tourists can appreciate the typical western China scenery and rich Muslim customs, watch the majestic hundreds of miles of Yellow River and typical Yellow River folk cultural activities. Each festival holds performances by large-scale ethnic song and dance, folk literature and art, acrobatics, Qinqiang opera and other art groups. During the festival, there are also colorful "Chinese Modern Celebrities Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition", "Helan Mountain Rock Painting Exhibition", "Tourism Commodity Exhibition", "Muslim Food Exhibition" etc.

During the festival, a rich cultural tour of the Yellow River will be arranged. Participants can see the sites of ancient human activities 30,000 years ago, hundreds of miles of the Great Wall of the Qin and Ming dynasties, Han tombs, and the sites of the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. Yellow River cultural monuments such as large grottoes, the mysterious Xixia Dynasty cemetery, and unique desert lakes.

"Hua'er Club"

"Hua'er", also known as Juvenile, is a folk song in Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia and other provinces. With vivid metaphors, strict rhythm, beautiful lyrics, and sometimes high-pitched tunes, sometimes melodious, "Hua'er" can be heard almost everywhere in Ningxia, but the most folklore characteristic is "Hua'er" in May and June every year. Later".

During the "Huaer Hui" period, people from near and far go mountain climbing and sing songs, and the number of people can often reach tens of thousands. At that time, people hold umbrellas, wave fans, block the road to each other, or sit on the ground. The lyrics are mostly improvised and full of life style. The main activities include blocking songs, antiphonal songs, mountain tours, toasts, farewells, etc.

The "Flower Club" is also an excellent occasion for young men and women to choose a partner. They use songs as matchmakers to express their feelings to each other.

The main festivals of the Hui people are Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and Al-Adha.

Eid al-Fitr. Ramadan falls in the ninth month of the lunar year in the Islamic calendar. In this month, people eat and drink well before the east turns white, and do not touch rice or water until the sun sets. They eat and drink after the sun sets. October 1st (religious calendar) is Eid al-Fitr. On this day, men, women, old and young are full of joy, bathe and dress up, go to temples to worship, visit relatives and neighbors, and greet each other. Every household buys traditional food rich in ethnic characteristics and local flavor. Many young men and women like to hold weddings on Eid. After Eid al-Fitr, eating times return to normal and are no longer restricted by sunrise and sunset.

Eid al-Adha. Also called "Eid al-Adha", it is held on the 70th day after Eid al-Fitr. The time is December 10th in the lunar year of the Islamic calendar. Because early December 10th of each year in the religious calendar is the pilgrimage period for Muslims to make the Hajj, and December 10th is the last day of the Hajj, a grand celebration is held. Legend has it that the Islamic prophet Ibrahim dreamed that Allah (Allah) asked him to kill his beloved son as a sacrifice to test his loyalty to Allah. As expected, the loyal Ibrahim was prepared to take action the next day. This move moved Allah, and he sent an angel to send a sheep as a sacrifice in place of his son. In order to commemorate Ibrahim, Muhammad designated the last day of Hajj as "Eid al-Adha". On this festival day, Muslims dress neatly and go to the temple ceremony (gathering ceremony) with joy. The ceremony is unique. Where conditions permit, each person has to slaughter a sheep, and seven people together slaughter a cow or a camel. Then divide the meat into three parts: one for yourself, one for guests, and one for the poor. After the ceremony, visits to relatives and friends began.

Holy Week. On March 12th in the lunar year of the Islamic calendar, this is the day Muhammad was born. Muslims attach great importance to this festival in order to commemorate the saint, praise the virtues of Muhammad, and never forget his teachings. On this day, there are gatherings, chanting, praising saints, telling the deeds of saints, and having dinner together, which is commonly known as "holy meeting". According to legend, Muhammad also died on this day, so Muslims also call this day "Holy Taboo".