As the warm spring sunshine embraces the May Day holiday, how will you spend your break in Hunan? We have prepared a generous cultural tourism gift package and cordially invite tourists from across the country to join us for a joyful holiday here in Hunan. Check out this travel guide to make the most of your holiday.

Cultural Organizations

Hunan Provincial Library of Juveniles and Children

During the May Day holiday, Hunan Provincial Library of Juveniles and Children is launching a series of activities. From May 1 to May 5, the "Picture Book Guessing Game" will be held in the Parent-Child Picture Book Area on the first floor of the Qizhi Building. Through the fun format of "guessing books from pictures," young readers will embark on an imaginative journey in books. On May 6, from 10:00 to 11:30, a Hunan tea-themed parent-child experience activity will take place in the Hunan Brand Heritage Experience Hall on the second floor of the Sixian Building. The event will cover the climatic characteristics and folk customs of the Lixia (Beginning of Summer) solar term, introduce the history and culture of Hunan tea, and include a parent-child DIY creative fruit tea activity. Also on May 6, from 10:00 to 11:00, the "Scent Detective" activity will be held in the Scent Reading Room on the fourth floor of the Sixian Building, where participants can watch digital scent movies and sniff scented picture frames, offering a unique multisensory reading experience.

Hunan Cultural Center

On May 1, the Hunan Cultural Center will hold the "May Day Intangible Cultural Heritage Craftsmanship Creation" event, featuring a hands-on workshop on the firing techniques of Liling underglaze five-colored porcelain, an intangible cultural heritage market at a craft shop, and a self-guided stamp-collecting experience (including rubbing and other activities) in the Intangible Cultural Heritage Creation Space. The event combined hands-on activities, viewing, and shopping, offering an immersive experience of the beauty of labor and creation (market and self-guided activities: 9:00–12:00, 14:30–17:00; workshop: 14:30–16:30); Short excerpts from traditional Peking Opera will be performed at 15:30 PM each afternoon from May 1 to 3; and on May 5 from 15:00 to 16:30, there will be a hands-on experience with the traditional Ningxiang cheongsam button-knotting technique.

Hunan Museum

On May 5, from 10:00–11:30 and 14:00–15:30, the activity "The Artistic Code Within the Oriental Smile" will take place. Through this event, participants will explore the cultural context of Qingzhou as a "dual hub of the Silk Road," learn about the integration of Buddhist culture with local traditions following its introduction along the Silk Road, and take part in a DIY paper photo frame creation featuring Buddhist ornamentation. On May 2 and May 4, from 10:00–11:30 and 14:00–15:30, the "Elegance of Study: A Wonderful Journey" activity will be held. Participants will learn about the artistic philosophies of two masters, Qi Baishi and Fu Baoshi, study the "brushwork" and "ink techniques" of Chinese ink wash painting, and experience the artistic conception of Chinese ink painting. From May 1 to May 5, public guided tours will be offered at designated times and venues for the "Changsha Mawangdui Han Dynasty Tombs Exhibition" (10:00, 11:00, 14:00, and 15:00), the "Two Masters of the North and South: The Art of Qi Baishi and Fu Baoshi" (10:00 and 14:00), and the "Oriental Smile: The Art of Qingzhou-Style Buddhist Sculptures" (10:00 and 14:00).

Hunan Provincial Flower-Drum Opera Protection and Inheritance Center

From May 1 to May 5, the Hunan Provincial Flower-Drum Opera Protection and Inheritance Center will present the new China-chic immersive fantasy show "New Liu Hai Cuts Firewood" at the Huagu (Flower-Drum) Opera Theater. Traditional Huagu opera will take on a trendy new "outfit," giving the classic a fresh and vibrant new life.

Hunan Gordon Theatre

On May 1, May 2, and May 3, from 14:00–15:30 and 19:30–21:30, the Yue Opera or Shaoxing Opera performance "Encountering Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai (known as Butterfly's Love)" will be staged at the Xiangjiang Theater on Pozi Street. The Yue Opera meets the bustling life in Changsha, marking the beginning of a cultural encounter spanning mountains and seas. On May 4 and May 5, from 19:30–21:30, the new Chinese-style Hunan Opera "Nie Xiaoqian" will be performed at the same theater, inviting you to experience the "fashionable style" of traditional Chinese opera.

Hunan Puppet and Shadow Art Protection and Inheritance Center

From May 1 to May 5 at 15:00, the Hunan Puppet and Shadow Art Protection and Inheritance Center will present "Saving Flaming Mountain" at the Ouying Dreamland Immersive Theater. The entire performance adopts a dual narrative structure of "shadow puppetry + live performances," with the two elements constantly intertwining. A character fighting behind the screen one moment may run right past you the next.

Peking Opera Preservation and Inheritance Center of Hunan

From May 1 to May 5, the exhibition performance "The Dreams of Lady Xin Zhui" will be held at the Hunan Museum. Based on artifacts unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Tombs in Changsha, this performance combines the restoration and display of historical relics with traditional Chinese Peking opera, telling the story of Lady Xin Zhui, the wife of the chancellor of the Changsha Kingdom during the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-25 AD), who carried on her husband's will, and educated her son to protect the family and serve the country.

Changsha

Jinggang Ancient Town Scenic Area

From May 1 to 5, the Jinggang Ancient Town Scenic Area will host a China-chic fireworks festival. Combining intangible cultural heritage, folk customs, China-chic culture, opera culture, interactive games, and immersive experiences, the event aims to create a new consumption-driven vacation experience in this thousand-year-old ancient town, featuring both daytime sightseeing and nighttime exploration.

Tongguan Kiln China-chic Paradise

From May 1 to 5, the Tongguan Kiln China-chic Paradise will host a Hanfu festival, featuring a thousand-person Hanfu parade, the immersive role-playing game titled "The Tongguan Chronicles," and a nighttime Tang Dynasty-themed banquet. Residents and visitors are invited to wear Hanfu and enjoy live performances, immersing themselves in the romance of Hunan culture.

Changsha Ecological Zoo

From May 1 to May 5, the Changsha Ecological Zoo will hold a series of May Day celebrations. While visiting the zoo, visitors can participate in a stamp-collecting challenge at five major checkpoints: the Tiger Hall, Reptile House, Panda House, Polar Pavilion, and Forest Theater. Visitors who collect any three stamps can visit the capybara-themed live-size maze at the Shulin Lawn. There will also be an animal parade and a cool robot mech show.

Changsha Window on the World

From April 30 to May 6, the Changsha Window on the World will host the Malanshan Street Art Festival, featuring art themes such as Hunan arts, Chinese myths, ocean fairy tales, and youthful mango. The festival will feature iconic productions from the Wuzhen Theatre Festival, the "Sandland" ocean fairy tale float, and over 100 international art masters to come together for a grand street art extravaganza.

Changsha Fantawild Oriental Heritage Theme Park

From April 30 to May 5, the Changsha Fantawild Oriental Heritage Theme Park will host the "China-chic Festival: The Arrival of the Jinyiwei (the Embroidered Uniform Guard)" event. The special NPC group "Jinyiwei Squad" will make an appearance, and a drone show will recreate the iconic scene with light and shadow. At the Jianghu Town, visitors can enjoy spectacular martial arts and acrobatics, and experience traditional street games — bringing you to the world of martial arts the moment you walk into the gates. In addition, there will be a martial arts master gathering, a "Boonie Bears" time-travel play, the "Martial Arts Contest" parade, with non-stop performances throughout the day.

Tianxin Pavilion

From May 1 to May 5, the main pavilion and ancient city wall square of Tianxin Pavilion will host the "2026 Changsha Tianxin Pavilion City Wall FUN Music Week." With "music" as the theme, the event deeply integrates intangible cultural heritage experiences, live performances, folk festivities, and parent-child interactions. The event perfectly combines historical and cultural heritage with modern pop music and trendy lifestyles, presenting residents and tourists with an immersive and interactive ancient city wall music party for all ages. Daytime interactive activities (13:00-17:30) focus on folk experiences, while evening performances (18:30–21:00) include concerts, small-scale shows, and folk experiences.

Fire God Palace Restaurant

From May 1 to May 5, 11:00 to 20:00, the Fire God Palace Restaurant on Pozhi Street will host a "May Day" Temple Fair, featuring classic excerpts from Huagu Opera, folk songs and dances, and performances of intangible cultural heritage skills, offering residents and visitors an all-round cultural experience.

Songya Lake National Wetland Park

At 10:00 AM on April 30, the Songya Lake National Wetland Park will host a public symphony concert —the Songya Lake Lawn Concert (Symphony)—inviting residents and visitors alike to enjoy an outdoor concert in the park.

Changsha Xingsha MixC

Between 11:00 and 21:00 from May 1 to May 5, the Changsha Hamburger Festival will be held at the South Plaza of Xingsha MixC. Featuring 50+ popular burger and food brands, the event brings back the carb-loaded fun from last year, offering burger lovers a delicious and exciting party.

Hengyang

Hengshan Ferry

From May 1 to 5, Hengshan County's Hengshan Ferry will host an immersive cultural and tourism festival centered on the theme of its thousand-year-old ferry heritage The block will feature live performances, a white horse parade, intangible cultural heritage shadow puppet shows, lion dance demonstrations, and flash mobs, recreating the bustling scene of the ferry. Visitors can participate in hands-on activities of intangible cultural heritage crafts, engage in fun interactive activities, and sample local snacks and Hunan cuisine. During daytime, visitors can stroll through the historic street, admire river views, and immerse themselves in the cultural heritage; at night, they can enjoy light shows, take in the night scenery, and marvel at the fireworks display.

Yinshan Mountain

From May 1 to May 5, the Yinshan Mountain and Caishen Cave Scenic Area will offer a 20% discount on online ticket purchases. At on-site ticket windows, groups of 10 or more people will receive two free tickets. Visitors who take part in the area's designated activities may also receive free admission. For those joining the free outdoor karaoke event, the top 10 performers will each be rewarded with one ticket to Yinshan Mountain. Additionally, free admission is granted to: model workers (at county level or above), police officers (with valid ID), sanitation workers (with valid work permit), and visitors wearing Hanfu. Cultural tourism promotion ambassadors and online influencers with more than 5,000 followers on Douyin, Kuaishou, or WeChat Channels are also entitled to free admission (with valid personal ID).

Nanyueli

From May 1 to May 5, the Nanyueli Temple Fair Cultural Food Block will host the May Day Hairpin Flower Festival, offering the joy of spring outings, sightseeing, and garden strolls, while reviving ancient customs such as Touhu game, or Pitch-pot, an ancient entertainment that requires players to throw sticks from a set distance into a canister; cuju (ancient football game), and poetry salon. The block will feature traditional games from ancient times including touhu, cuju, ring toss, and mahjong, along with interactive events with NPC actors. Performances will include celestial maiden scattering flowers, face-changing, acrobatics, high-altitude swings and aerial rings, firework puppet shows, fireworks waterfalls, and intangible cultural heritage performances such as molten iron fireworks show, fire pots, and fire dragon firecrackers.

Cai Lun Bamboo Sea Scenic Area

From May 1 to 6, the Cai Lun Bamboo Sea Scenic Area will host the Bamboo Sea Tent Camping and Food Festival, during which fun games, food parties, and other activities will be held at irregular intervals.

Qidong County

From May 1 to 5, the Siming Mountain National Forest Park, Yaohu Wetland Park, Guiyang Zhuangyuan Cultural Tourism Zone, and Wang Ruchi's Former Residence in Qidong County will open to the public free of charge.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source：Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism