Culture · Festivals
Mongolian Lunar New Year (Tsagaan Sar)
When it is
Tsagaan Sar (查干萨尔 in Mongolian Chinese; 'White Month' in Mongolian) is the Mongolian lunar new year, falling at the same time as the Chinese Spring Festival — the first day of the first lunar month — though the specific day sometimes differs by one day due to calendar calculation differences between Mongolian and Chinese traditions. It is observed by Mongolian ethnic communities in Inner Mongolia, as well as independently in Mongolia proper.
What it means
'White' in the Tsagaan Sar name refers to dairy products — white foods (white = pure = good fortune in Mongolian culture). The festival follows the end of the white-cold winter (tsagaan = white, also = clear, pure) with a celebration centred on dairy abundance: milk tea, airag (fermented mare's milk), aaruul (dried milk curds), öröm (clotted cream), and a ceremonial whole-roasted sheep.
The three-day structure
- New Year's Eve: the family's senior woman prepares the ceremonial sheep and dairy offerings. The felt yurt (ger) is cleaned and decorated. A Mani wheel or Buddhist altar is set in the honoured position.
- First day (Shiniin Negen): the morning begins before dawn with family bowing rituals — younger family members bow to elders while extending blue ceremonial scarves (khadag); elders hold a tray of snuff bottle and dairy foods. The exchange of snuff bottles is the traditional greeting.
- Second and third days: visits to relatives and neighbours in order of seniority. Each visit involves multiple servings of milk tea, dairy foods, buuz dumplings (steamed mutton-filled), and hospitality. Horse racing and Mongolian wrestling competitions run on the steppe.
Where to experience it
- Hohhot: Inner Mongolia's capital has organised new year events at the Mongolian Ethnic Culture Park.
- Hulunbuir grassland: rural pastoral communities maintain the most traditional forms of Tsagaan Sar; accessed through licensed tourism operators.
- Xilinhot: major grassland town with open community celebrations.
Travel impact
Coincides with Chinese Spring Festival — train and flight congestion applies for all inter-city travel. Inner Mongolia-specific transport to Hohhot is also congested. Book 3–4 weeks ahead.