All Ethnic Minorities Festivals in Yunnan Province

Overview

Yunnan has the largest number of ethnic populations in China, with 26 ethnic minorities including Bai, Yi, Dai, Naxi, Hani, Miao, Tibetan, Hui, and Yao. Yunnan offers a unique and exciting experience of ethnic customs, with more than 400 ethnic festivals celebrated throughout the year. The ethnic minorities maintain their unique folk traditions and customs full of myths, singing, dances, paintings, and ancient music. China Highlights has listed the following ethnic festivals worth attending while visiting Yunnan.

There are numerous ethnic groups and festivals in Yunnan Province. The number of ethnic festivals, either important or not so important, reaches about 400. In some ethnic groups, besides the common and important festivals, different branches have different festivals as well. Some festivals are celebrated by many different ethnic groups, but the time, means of celebration, and legends may differ. For example, besides Yi, Bai, Naxi, and Pumi also celebrate the Torch Festival. Besides Dai, Bulang, and A’chang also celebrate the Water-Splashing Festival.
On the occasions of festivals, people gather together in their traditional costumes, singing, dancing, and playing games. Young people look for their expected lovers and carry on love affairs with each other. Each festival is a jamboree activity where tourists can get a better understanding of ethnic culture.

The List of Ethnic Festivals in Yunnan

Ethnic Group Festival Name Main Activities Time (Lunar Calendar)
Yi Torch Festival Playing with torches, wrestling, bullfighting, song and dance performances June 24
Flower Arrangement Festival Flower arranging, singing contests February 8
Yi Costume Festival Singing and dancing, bright costumes March 28
Yi Tiger Festival Tiger dance January 8 to 15
Yi Mizhiji Festival Sacrifice ceremony
Mouding “March Fair” Commodity exchange, folk song and dance performances March 27 to February 19
Bai Dali March Street Festival Commodity exchange, horse racing, song and dance performances March 15 to 21
Bai Green Maiden Festival Singing and dancing January 15
Bai Sanxing Festival Sacrifice, transplanting rice seedlings April 23 to 25
Bai Rice Transplanting Festival Sacrifice, transplanting rice seedlings, singing contests Grain Rain Festival
Bai Torch Festival Setting torches, dragon boat races, singing Dabenqu June 25
Bai Shibaoshan Song Festival Temple fair, singing contests End of July
Bai Pear Blossom Festival Picnicking in the pear orchard During pear blossom season
Bai Benzhu Festival Sacrifice, song and dance, Dongjing music Different in each village
Dai Dai Water Splashing Festival Dragon boat races, water splashing, song and dance Mid-April (Gregorian calendar)
Dai Sending Dragon Festival Sacrifice, song and dance January (Gregorian calendar)
Dai Closing Door Festival Buddha tower worship, song and dance Mid-July (Gregorian calendar)
Dai Opening Door Festival Village tour, high rocket launch, song and dance Mid-October (Gregorian calendar)
Hani Hani Amatu Festival Sacrifice, song and dance, street banquet Dragon day in February
“Ku Zhazha” (June Year Festival) Swinging, wrestling, song and dance June 24
Hani “Limazhu” Festival Singing and dancing, wrestling Spring (Gregorian calendar)
Hani Locust Catching Festival Catching locusts for food June 24
Hani Maiden Festival Swinging, song and dance February 4
Hani Dragon Worship/New Rice Festival Bronze gong, cowhide drum, Bawu, four-stringed instrument February 2
Hani Misuoza Festival Swinging, song and dance
Hani Miaonai Festival Bonfire, song and dance Early May
Miao Miao Flower Mountain Festival Climbing flower poles, lusheng (reed pipe), song and dance January
Lisu Lisu Bathhouse Festival Hot spring bathing, singing contest January 2
Lisu “Keshi” Festival Family reunion meal, crossbow shooting competition January 1 to 15
Lisu Knife Pole Festival Climbing knife poles, walking on fire, bag throwing, song and dance February 8
Naxi Naxi Miluo/Bangbang Festival Picnicking, horse racing, song and dance, agricultural tool trading February 8
Naxi Sanduo Festival Sacrifice, singing contests, bullfighting June 25
Naxi Mule and Horse Fair Commodity exchange, cultural and sports performances Mid-March/Mid-July
Naxi Heaven Worship Festival Sacrifice Spring (January)/Autumn (July)
Naxi July Fair Commodity exchange, cultural and sports performances Mid-July
Naxi Dragon Festival Commodity exchange, cultural and sports performances January 15
Lahu Lahu Kuza Festival (New Year) Elephant foot drum dance, singing contests Late March/Early April (Dai calendar)
Lahu Gourd Festival Bonfire, song and dance October 10
Lahu Sun God Worship Sacrifice, song and dance Beginning of summer
Wa Wa Drum Festival Sacrifice, song and dance “Gereyue” (Wa calendar)/December (Gregorian calendar)
Blang Blang Gongyong Festival Sacrifice, song and dance April and September
Dulong Dulong Kaquewa (New Year) Sacrifice, buffalo slaughter, song and dance Winter or January
Jingpo Jingpo Munao Zongge Festival Sacrifice, song and dance January
Nu Nu Year Festival Ancestral worship, earth worship, song and dance December to January 10
Nu Flower Festival Flower gathering, song and dance March 15
Achang Achang Street Festival Playing with white elephants, elephant foot drum dance Mid-September
Pumi Pumi “Big Year” Festival Swinging, horse racing, song and dance December 6
Pumi Mountain Tour Festival Mountain tours, song and dance May 5
Tibetan Tibetan Grassland Festival/New Year Horse racing, picnicking, Guozhuang dance January
Tibetan “Flower” Festival Singing contests June 14
Tibetan God Dance Festival Sacrifice, song and dance Tibetan New Year’s Eve
Tibetan Horse Racing Festival Horse racing May 5
Hui Hui Corban Festival Family reunion, sacrificial slaughter October (Islamic calendar)
Hui Eid al-Fitr Prayers, recitations, song and dance June
Hui Ruzi Festival Fasting May 23
Hui Sacrificial Festival Slaughtering cattle and sheep, sacrifice December (Islamic calendar)
Hui Mawlid Festival March 12 (Islamic calendar)
Jino Jino Temok Festival Song and dance, village tour, top spinning January (Jino calendar)
Yao Yao Panwang Festival Sacrifice, song and dance May 29
Yao Ganba Festival Copper drum dance Late December
Yao Xijiu Festival Song and dance May 29
Yao Danu Festival Song and dance, martial arts, ball games May 29
Yao “Song Hall” Festival Courtship through singing October 16
Yao Daogao Festival Bullfighting contest October 16
Yao Palm Meat Festival Commemorating Mother Milo May 29
Yao Bird Chasing Festival Singing contests February 1
Yao Maiden Street Festival Commodity exchange, folk song and dance performances First market after Chinese New Year
Zhuang Zhuang Longduan Festival Drama, acrobatics, song and dance June
Zhuang Liulang Festival Similar to Chinese New Year June 1 or July 1
Bouyei Bouyei Moon Festival Commodity exchange, folk song and dance performances February 13 to 15
Bouyei March 3rd Festival Commodity exchange, folk song and dance performances March 3
Bouyei “June 6th” Festival Commodity exchange, folk song and dance performances June 6
Bouyei Flower Jump Festival Playing “Leyiou,” playing the moon guitar, playing the leaf January 1 to 21
Shui Shui Festival Similar to Chinese New Year June 1
De’ang De’ang Water Splashing Festival Water splashing, song and dance Seven days after Qingming Festival
Manchu Manchu Golden Festival Ancestral worship, song and dance October 13
Mongolian Mongolian Luanban Festival Sacrifice, song and dance April 2