Beijing which is the administrative capital of China is also its cultural heart; this city has seen thousands of years Chinese history take place within its streets and houses and is one of the best places in China to experience some of the cultural festivals that are celebrated with much pomp and pageantry. As Beijing has been the Chinese capital for centuries it has also become an unofficial custodian for local culture and festivals thus within Beijing is the reverberation of thousands of years of complex practices which has endeared this city to many tourists.
The Beijing Xuannan which is held in October and runs on through to the month of November is a celebration of the city’s unique identity and is also an opportunity for travelers to understand the culture of the region. The festival is carried out in the Xuanwu District which many consider to be the birthplace of Beijing.
This district which lies to the south west of the city, in ancient times it was located just outside the inner Imperial city which was reserved for the ruling class and the palaces of the Emperor. Thus, the Xuanwu district is thought to have been the residential areas that housed the lower classes of Chinese society during that time. However, the area has changed rapidly through out the ages and has been the cynosure of a revival in culture and art following Mao’s Cultural Revolution. To date, the districts biggest claim to fame can be the Peking Opera which was developed in the 18th century and is an amalgamation of traditional performance arts such as drama, music, dance, mime and acrobatics.
Today, the Xuannan Festival celebrates not only the cultural contribution of the Xuanwu region but also the cultural renaissance in the whole of the Chinese mainland. Among the activities at this year’s festival will be the Culture Tour, the traditional cultural performances week and the creative cultures week. Guests staying at a Beijing Hotel such as the Grand Millennium Beijing will be able to experience this festival during their stay. Guests can also take advantage of Beijing hotel deals during this season that promote this event.