Dali Festivals and Events
Dali Festivals and Activities are very colorful and Dali is the best place to take a festival tour. There are 13 ethnic groups in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, namely, Han, Bai, Yi, Hui, Lisu, Miao, Naxi, Zhuang, Tibetan, Blang, Lahu, Achang, Dai and other ethnic groups. This part gives a brief introduction of festivals and activities in Dali, and tell travelers what to do when come to Dali.
Festivals in Dali
As the prominent ethnic minority inhabited in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Bai Ethnic Minority created brilliant culture and customs, among which the unique traditional festivals of Bai people enjoy good fame and attract tourists home and abroad to visit.
Popular Festivals
- The Fishing Opening Festival
- Hungry Ghost Festival
- Dragon Boat Race Festival
- Xiaojizu Singing Festival
- March Street (Sanyuejie) Festival
- Raosanling Festival
Festivals by Regions in Dali
Dali City
Date | Festival | Ethnic Minority |
January 10 of Lunar Calendar | Benzhu Worship Festival | Bai |
February | Flower Festival (Huazhaojie) | Bai |
February 15 of Lunar Calendar | Tianfengshan Mountain Song Festival | Bai |
March 15-21 of Lunar Calendar | March Street (Sanyuejie) Festival | Bai |
April 24-25 of Lunar Calendar | Raosanling Festival | Bai |
Weishan County
Date | Festival | Ethnic Minority |
February of Lunar Calendar | Jiejingu Festival | Bai |
February 8 of Lunar Calendar | Dage Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority | Yi |
February 8 of Lunar Calendar | The Ancestor Worship Festival | Yi |
February 8 of Lunar Calendar | Eryueba Festival | Yi |
March 12 of Islamic Calendar | Mawlid Festival of Hui Ethnic People | Hui |
March 12-18 | Weishan Snack Festival | Yi, Hui |
March 29-April 1 | Maanshan Pear Blossom Festival | Yi |
June 25 of Lunar Calendar | Torch Festival | Yi |
July 15 of Lunar Calendar | Ghost Festival | Yi |
September | Peasant Culture Festival | Yi |
October of Islamic Calendar | Eid al-Fitr Festival of Hui Ethnic People | Hui |
December of Islamic Calendar | Eid al-Adha Festival of Hui Ethnic Minority | Hui |
Nanjian County
Date | Festival | Ethnic Minority |
February 8 of Lunar Calendar | Yashen Festival | Yi |
March | Tea-leaves Picking Festival | Yi |
May 5 of Lunar Calendar | Sangwang Festival | Yi |
May 5 of Lunar Calendar | Red Bayberry Festival | Yi |
June 25 of Lunar Calendar | Torch Festival | Yi |
July 15 of Lunar Calendar | Ghost Festival | / |
November 25 | Wuliangshan Mountain Cherry Blossom Festival | / |
November 25 | Tiaocai Dance Art Festival | / |
Jianchuan County
Date | Festival | Ethnic Minority |
January 15 of Lunar Calendar | Qingguniang Festival (Women’s Festival) | Bai |
February 8 of Lunar Calendar | Prince Festival | Bai |
February 15 of Lunar Calendar | Nirvana Festival | Bai |
April 8 of Lunar Calendar | April 8th (Siyueba) Festival | Bai |
April 8 of Lunar Calendar | Buddha Birthday Festival | Bai |
June 15 of Lunar Calendar | Jianhu Lake Encircling Festival | Bai |
July 15 of Lunar Calendar | Yulanpen Festival | Bai |
July 27-August 1 of Lunar Calendar | Shibaoshan Folk Song Festival | Bai |
December 18 of Lunar Calendar | Laba Festival | Bai |
Eryuan County
Date | Festival | Ethnic Minority |
January 14-18 of Lunar Calendar | Naochunwang Festival | Bai |
March 12-26 | Cibihu Pear Blossom Festival | / |
June 13 of Lunar Calendar | Qingyuan Cave Singing Festival | Bai |
June 25 of Lunar Calendar | Haixihai Folk Song Festival | Bai |
July 23 of Lunar Calendar | Haideng Lantern Festival | Bai |
October of Islamic Calendar | Eid al-Fitr Festival of Hui Ethnic People | Hui |
Yangbi County
Date | Festival | Ethnic Minority |
February 8 of Lunar Calendar | Knife-ladder-climbing Festival | Lisu |
March 19 of Lunar Calendar | Dage Festival | Yi |
June 25 of Lunar Calendar | Torch Festival | Yi |
Yunlong County
Date | Festival | Ethnic Minority |
February 8 of Lunar Calendar | Bathing Festival | Bai |
March 30-April 1 | Tianchi Lake Pear Blossom Festival | / |
June 25 of Lunar Calendar | Torch Festival | Yi |
December 20 | Kuoshi Festival | Lisu |
Activities in Dali
As a popular destination for visitors, Dali offers all kinds of recreational activities. You can always find the activities full of fun, which can kick back and indulge yourself in the happy atmosphere. Come to Dali, and take part in Dali Activities.
Date | Activity | Location |
Every Monday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m | Shaping Monday Market in Dali | Dali City |
Every Friday | Shaxi Friday Market | Jianchuan County, Dali |
January 25 | Dali International Orchid and Camellia Fair | Dali City |
January 9 of Lunar Calendar | Dragon Lantern (Longdenghui) Festival | Nanjian County, Dali |
February 15 of Lunar Calendar | Sanying Agricultural Products Exchange Fair | Eryuan County, Dali |
February 19 of Lunar Calendar | Guanyin Temple Fiar | Dali City |
March 3 of Lunar Calendar | Xiaojizu Singing Festival | Dali City |
March 20 of Lunar Calendar | Lingbaoshan Mountain Pilgrimage | Nanjian County, Dali |
May of Lunar Calendar | Transplanting Rice Competition | Eryuan County, Dali |
July 3 of Lunar Calendar | Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Assembly | Jianchuan County, Dali |
August | Mule and Horse Trade Fair (August Fair) | Jianchuan County, Dali |
August 15-21 of Lunar Calendar | Bajie Agricultural Products Exchange Fair | Eryuan County, Dali |
Dali Minority Festival Tours
- 5 Days Wa Ethnic Minority’s New Rice Festival Tour
- 6 Days Kunming and Chuxiong Torch Festival Celebration Tour
- 17 Days Yunnan Ethnic Minorities Festivals Tour around Chinese New Year
Keep Reading
- Baoshan Festivals and Activities
- Chuxiong Festivals and Activities
- Kunming Festivals and Activities
- Dehong Festivals and Activities
- Diqing Festivals and Activities
- Honghe Festivals and Activities
- Lijiang Festivals and Activities
- Lincang Festivals and Activities
- Nujiang Festivals and Activities
- Pu'er Festivals and Activities
- Qujing Festivals and Activities
- Wenshan Festivals and Activities
- Xishuangbanna Festivals and Activities
- Yuxi Festivals and Activities
- Zhaotong Festivals and Activities
Xiazaotang Hot Spring in Caojian Town of Yunlong County, Dali
Chinese Name:云龙县漕涧镇下澡潭温泉 English Name:Xiazaotang Hot Spring in Caojian Town of Yunlong County, Dali Xiazaotang hot spring(下澡潭), located in the southeastern mountains of Caojian town(漕涧镇), nine kilometers away from the...
Nightlife in Dali
Dali Entertainment and Nightlife goes well beyond daytime activity. At night when people come out to play, the city’s clubs and bars are its heartbeat, positively pulsating with energy...
Erhai Lake Cruise
Erhai Lake is the largest highland lake next to Dianchi and one of the seven biggest fresh water lakes in China. It has its feature shaped as a human’s...
Shaping Monday Market in Dali
Shaping Monday Market Shaping Market, (About 30km north of Dali). Shaping Town offers a lively weekly market with plenty of local color. The market starts early. A great chance...
Tea-leaves Picking Festival of Wuliang Mountain in Nanjian County, Dali
Chinese Name: 南涧无量山采茶节 English Name:Tea-leaves Picking Festival of Wuliang Mountain in Nanjian County, Dali Nanjian Yi Autonomous County, located in the southern part of Dali Prefecture and nestled in the...
Lingbaoshan Mountain Pilgrimage in Nanjian County, Dali
Chinese Name:大理南涧县灵宝山朝山会 English Name: Lingbaoshan Mountain Pilgrimage in Nanjian County, Dali Every year on the 20th day of the third lunar month, is the annual Mountain Pilgrimage in Lingbaoshan Mountain, Nanjian...
Mocui Tea House of Taoxigu Valley in Dali
Chinese Name:大理苍山桃溪谷莫催茶室 English Name: Mocui Tea House of Taoxigu Valley in Dali Mocui Tea House and Tea Plantation is located in Taoxigu Valley of Cangshan Mountain. Tourists can pick tea in Taoxigu Valley Tea...
Zijin Town Peasant Culture Festival in Weishan County, Dali
Overview Chinese Name: 巍山县紫金乡农民文化节 English Name: Zijin Town Peasant Culture Festival in Weishan County, Dali Location: Weishan County, located in Dali Prefecture This festival celebrates the rich agricultural heritage...
Maanshan Pear Blossom Festival in Weishan County, Dali
Overview Chinese Name:大理巍山县马鞍山梨花节 English Name: Maanshan Pear Blossom Festival in Weishan County, Dali Location: Weishan County, Dali Prefecture This festival marks the blooming of pear blossoms in the Maanshan...
Dage Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Weishan County, Dali
Overview Chinese Name:大理巍山彝族打歌节 English Name: Dage Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Weishan County, Dali Location: Weishan County, Dali The Dage Festival, also known as the “Dage Festival of...
Ghost Festival in Weishan County, Dali
Overview Chinese Name:大理巍山彝族七月半/鬼节 English Name: Ghost Festival in Weishan County, Dali Location: Weishan County, Dali The Daoist classics refer to the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar as the...
Eryueba Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Weishan County, Dali
Overview Chinese Name:大理巍山彝族二月八 English Name: Eryueba Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Weishan County, Dali Location: Weishan County, Dali According to the “Draft of Menghua Records: Humanity,” the Yi...