The Qingming(Pure Brightness)Festival is one of the 24 reason division points in China,falling on April 4-6^th each year.After the festival,the temperature will rise up the rainfall increases.It is the high time for spring plowing and snowing.But the Qingming Festival is not only a seasonal point to guide farm work,it is more a festival of commemoration.

The Qingming Festival sees a combination of sadness and happiness.

This is the most important day of sacrifice.Both the Han and minority ethnic groups at this time offer sacrifice to their ancestors and sweep the tombs of the diseased.Also,they will not cook on this day and only cold food is served.

Then Hanshi(Cold Food)Festival was usually one day before the Qingming Festival.As our ancestors often extended the day to the Qingming,they were later combined.

On each Qingming Festival,all cemeteries are crowded with people who come to sweep tombs and offer sacrifices.Traffic on the way to the cemeteries becomes extremely jammed.The customs have been greatly simplified today.After slightly sweeping the tombs,people offer food,flowers and favorites of the dead,then burn incense and paper money and bow before the memorial tablet.

In contrast to the sadness of the tomb sweepers,people also enjoy hope of Spring on this day.The Qingming Festival is a time when the sun shines brightly,then trees and grass become green and nature is again lively.Since ancient times,people have followed the custom of Spring outings.At this time tourist are everywhere.

People love to fly kites during the Qingming Festival.Kite flying is actually not limited to the Qingming Festival.Its uniqueness lies in that people fly kites not only during the day,but also at night.A string of little lanterns tied onto the kite or the thread look like shining stars,and therefore,are called “god”’s lanterns.

The Qingming Festival is also a time to plant trees,for the survive rate of saplings is high and trees grow fast later.In the past,then Qingming Festival was called the”Arbor Day”.But since 1979,the Arbor Day”was settled on March 12^th according to the Gregorian calendar.