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
Red Bayberry Festival in Nanjian County, Dali
Overvew Chinese Name:大理南涧县杨梅会 English Name: Red Bayberry Festival in Nanjian County, Dali Location: Nanjian County, Dali Prefecture The Red Bayberry Festival is a vibrant and flavorful celebration that highlights...
Caishen Temple Fair in Dali Ancient Town
Chinese Name:大理古城财神会 English Name: Caishen Temple Fair in Dali Ancient Town Caishen means The God of Wealth. http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_eddd8ab80102v2ib.html...
Xiaojizu Singing Festival in Dali City
Overview of the Festival Chinese Name:大理苍山小鸡足歌会/三月三朝山会 English Name: Xiaojizu Singing Festival in Dali City Location:大理市湾桥镇南面的保和寺/Baohesi Temple to the south of Waqiao Town in Dali City Significance: The festival serves...
Guanyin Temple Fiar in Dali City
Chinese Name:大理镇观音塘会 English Name: Guanyin Temple Fiar in Dali City http://yn.news.163.com/15/0409/10/AMOK8IH103230LLH.html...
Flower Festival (Huazhaojie) in Dali Ancient town
Introduction of the Festival Chinese Name:大理古城花朝节 English Name: Flower Festival (Huazhaojie) in Dali Ancient Town Location: Dali Ancient Town The Huazhao Festival commemorates the birthday of flowers and is...
Jiejingu Festival in Weishan County, Dali
Overview Chinese Name:大理巍山县接金姑 English Name: Jiejingu Festival in Weishan County, Dali Location: Weishan County, Dali Significance: The festival is primarily a religious and agricultural event, where local communities offer...
Tianzi Temple Fair in Heqing County, Dali
Chinese Name:鹤庆县天子庙会 English Name: Tianzi Temple Fair in Heqing County, Dali Tianzi Temple Fair is held in Tianzimiao Cave in Heqing County every year....
Benzhu Worship Festival in Wase Village of Wase Town, Dali
Overview Chinese Name:大理市挖色镇挖色村本主节 English Name: Benzhu Worship Festival in Wase Village of Wase Town, Dali Location: Wase Village of Wase Town, Dali The Benzhu Worship Festival honors local deities...
Benzhu Worship and Knife-ladder-climbing Festival in Qingshan Village of Shuanglang Town, Dali
Overview Chinese Name: 大理双廊镇青山村本主节(上刀山/刀山会) English Name: Benzhu Worship and Knife-ladder-climbing Festival in Qingshan Village of Shuanglang Town, Dali Location: Qingshan Village of Shuanglang Town, Dali Benzhu is a unique...
Benzhu Worship Festival in Xizhou Town, Dali
Overview Chinese Name:大理市喜洲镇本主节 English Name: Benzhu Worship Festival in Jinhe Village of Xizhou Town, Dali Location: 大理市喜洲镇金河村/周城村 The Benzhu Worship Festival, celebrated in Xizhou Town of Dali, Yunnan Province, is...
Benzhu Worship Festival in Binchuan County, Dali
Basic Introduction for the Festival Chinese Name:宾川县鸡足山镇上沧村白族本主节 English Name: Benzhu Worship Festival in Binchuan County, Dali Location: Wocun Village (大营镇莴村) of Daying Town/Shangcang Village of Jizushan Town This festival is...
Binchuan Grape Cultural Tourism Festival in Dali
Chinese Name: 大理宾川葡萄旅游文化节 English Name: Binchuan Grape Cultural Tourism Festival in Dali...
