A cultural celebration that fills the streets of Guanajuato Capital with color and tradition.
The callejoneadas, colonial architecture, and history are an essential part of Guanajuato, but in 2026 the city experienced something completely new: the Fuego de Oriente Chinese New Year Festival, a celebration that brought Asian traditions to the heart of the Bajío.
For 14 days, from February 14th to 27th, this festival transformed squares, museums, and streets into venues for cultural exchange, where visitors and residents could discover the richness of Chinese traditions through art, gastronomy, cinema, and traditional performances.
More than an event, it was an experience that celebrated cultural diversity and demonstrated how two different worlds can come together in the same place.
A cultural bridge between Mexico and China
The festival was made possible thanks to the collaboration of cultural and academic institutions, including the Secretariat of Culture of Guanajuato, the University of Guanajuato, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Mexico, and the China Cultural Center in Mexico.
This joint effort turned Guanajuato into an international meeting point where traditions, art, and knowledge were shared.
Through its programming, the festival aimed to bring the community closer to Chinese culture and showcase how Chinese New Year celebrations symbolize prosperity, good fortune, wisdom, and new beginnings.
Workshops, cinema, and experiences for the whole family
One of the festival's major attractions was its diverse cultural program, designed to engage people of all ages.
Among the highlighted activities were:
- Origami workshops, where children and adults created traditional figures with paper
- Chinese painting workshops and activities about the Chinese zodiac
- Conferences on the origin and meaning of Chinese New Year
- Outdoor Chinese film screenings in iconic city locations
- Chinese gastronomy workshops and masterclasses
Many of these activities took place in historic venues such as the Conde Rul House Museum and in public spaces like the Jardín de la Unión, creating a unique cultural experience in settings steeped in history.
The dragon and lion dance: the most anticipated moment
One of the most iconic moments of the festival was the parade with the traditional dragon and lion dance, one of the most representative cultural expressions of Chinese New Year.
This spectacle parades through the streets accompanied by music and colorful costumes, symbolizing protection, prosperity, and the expulsion of evil spirits to begin the new cycle with good fortune.
Watching these traditional dances move through the alleys and plazas of Guanajuato was an experience that fused Asian energy with the city's colonial beauty.
A cultural experience that connects traditions
In addition to cultural activities, the festival invited visitors to stroll through the picturesque alleys and squares of Guanajuato, enjoying the festive atmosphere that filled every corner during those days.
Between cinema, music, art, and gastronomy, the city offered a celebration that was much more than the start of a new year: it was a space to share cultures, learn new traditions, and celebrate diversity.
Guanajuato, a destination that opens new cultural roads
The arrival of the Chinese New Year Festival marks an important step for Guanajuato Capital as a destination that promotes cultural exchange and international projection.
These types of events not only enrich the city's cultural offerings, but they also invite visitors from all over to discover a destination that always has something new to offer.
Because in Guanajuato, every festival is an opportunity to live new experiences and connect with world cultures… all in the incomparable setting of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. ✨
To discover more events and experiences like this, keep browsing guanajuato.mx and explore everything the state has in store for you.
