The Qingming Festival is a traditional Chinese festival on the 104th day after the winter solstice (or the 15th day from the Spring Equinox), usually occurring around April 5th. The festival dates from Tang Dynasty and is an official public holiday in China.

It is a day for the Chinese to remember and honour one's ancestors at grave sites. People pray before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food, tea, wine and paper accessories to their ancestors. The rites are very important to most Chinese, especially farmers. Some people carry willow branches with them on Qingming, or put willow branches on their gates or front doors, hoping that willow branches help ward off the evil ghosts that wander on Qingming.

People also go on family outings and enjoy the greenery of springtime, start the spring plowing, sing and dance. Another popular thing to do is fly kites which are in shapes of animals or characters from Chinese opera.