Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day)
Also called: Tomb-Sweeping Day, Ching Ming Festival, Clear Bright Festival
What is Qingming Festival?
Qingming is the day families visit their ancestors' graves to clean them and leave offerings. It is also a spring festival: the name means "clear and bright", and people go out to enjoy the new green.
Qingming Festival dates 2026–2030
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | |
| 2027 | |
| 2028 | |
| 2029 | |
| 2030 |
Where it comes from
Qingming is one of the 24 solar terms. Over the centuries it absorbed the older Cold Food Festival (寒食节), when, according to legend, people ate cold food in memory of a loyal official, Jie Zitui.
How people celebrate
- Sweep the graves (扫墓) and leave flowers, food and incense
- Go on a spring outing (踏青) in the countryside
- Fly kites
- Eat green rice balls (青团) in the Jiangnan region (Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang)
Words and greetings
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 清明节 | PinyinQīngmíngjié | EnglishQingming Festival |
| 扫墓 | Pinyinsǎomù | Englishto sweep the graves |
| 踏青 | Pinyintàqīng | Englishto go on a spring outing |
| 青团 | Pinyinqīngtuán | Englishgreen rice ball (a Qingming snack) |
| 清明安康 | PinyinQīngmíng ānkāng | Englishwishing you peace and health at Qingming |
| 清明时节雨纷纷 | PinyinQīngmíng shíjié yǔ fēnfēn | English"At Qingming time a fine rain falls on and on" (Du Mu's poem) |
Qingming is mainly a day of remembrance, so many people avoid "Happy Qingming" and say 清明安康 (peace and health at Qingming) instead.
Is it a public holiday?
A public holiday in mainland China (usually a three-day weekend), Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
Frequently asked questions
When is Qingming Festival in 2027?
Monday 5 April 2027. Qingming follows the sun, so it falls on 4 or 5 April each year.
Can you say "Happy Qingming"?
Many people avoid it, because Qingming is mainly for remembering the dead. 清明安康 (Qīngmíng ānkāng), "peace and health at Qingming", is the safer wish.
What do people do at Qingming?
They clean their ancestors' graves, leave offerings and flowers, and often take a walk in the spring countryside.