What Festival Events Are Held in Dongguan?

Time: The 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month Venue: Dongkeng Town

Introduction: Every year on the 2nd day of the second lunar month, tens of thousands of locals flock to Dongkeng Town, Dongguan. They stroll along the ten-li-long main street, scrambling to splash and be doused with "immortal holy water", shop for auspicious treasures and admire decorated flower floats. The spectacular, bustling occasion ranks as Dongguan’s grandest festival today.

Historical records trace the festival back to the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty. A wealthy Lu clan posted recruitment notices for labourers on the second day of the second lunar month, a practice soon copied by others. Year after year, young men and women from near and far travelled to Dongkeng seeking employers, and the day gradually evolved into the Body-Selling Festival.

Dongkeng was once nicknamed "Little Macau". For hundreds of years, folk customs of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau have blended here, and the town has thrived as a commercial hub. During the annual festival, thousands of visitors from Hong Kong, Macau and surrounding regions converge here. Three core traditions have endured for centuries: bustling market trade, labour employment contracts, and mass shared celebrations.

Numerous folk legends about immortals granting blessings on this festival later emerged, such as "You will find what you seek on festival day", "You shall meet an immortal while shopping" and "Purchases bring good fortune".

Nowadays, the hiring and trading of labourers no longer take place, yet age-old traditions linger: street food markets, the ritual of holy water splashing, and the belief of encountering immortals while shopping. New performances have been integrated into the celebration, including grand flower float parades, a massive water gun splashing show, and ethnic folk dances representing Uyghur, Miao, Dong, Yi, Dai and Tibetan cultures.

Time: The 5th day of the 5th lunar month Venue: Shilong Town

Introduction: Every Dragon Boat Festival, the two-day "Shilong Cup" Dragon Boat Race is held at Jinsha Bay in Shilong Town, Dongguan. Besides competing teams of traditional dragon boats and international standard dragon boats, a full roster of supporting events is staged: large-scale galas, fireworks displays, extreme sports shows, calligraphy and painting contests, as well as exhibitions of Ming and Qing antique furniture and curios.

Time: Late June each year Venue: Hengli Town

Introduction: When lychees ripen in late June, Hengli Town hosts a week-long Red Lychee Festival. The vibrant agenda features dragon boat parades, folk dance performances themed "Ripe Red Lychees", the "Charm of Hengli" photography contest, sports carnivals, grand theatrical galas, fireworks shows, orchard lychee tasting tours and a festival film week.

Time: July 17 – August 14 Venue: Zhangmutou Town

Introduction: Nestled in the mountainous southeast of Dongguan, Zhangmutou Town has a local permanent population of fewer than 30,000, yet around 150,000 Hong Kong residents live here, earning it the moniker "Little Hong Kong". Every year from July to mid-August, the Hong Kong Residents Tourism Festival takes place. Main venues include the Cultural Square, Guanyin Mountain, Riverside Park and Automobile Expo Centre. A rich lineup of cultural and recreational activities awaits visitors: large variety galas, auto fairs, grand illuminated flower float parades, group mountain climbing for ten thousand participants, a water-splashing festival and beer festival.

Time: The 7th day of the 7th lunar month Venue: Wangniudun Town

Introduction: Locals in Dongguan call the 7th day of the seventh lunar month the Birthday of the Seventh Fairy, also known as Worshipping the Seventh Fairy. The festival honours the steadfast love of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. Devout worship ceremonies and flower float parades are held to pray for safety and good fortune in the years ahead, with all major celebrations centred in Wangniudun Town, Dongguan.