Honghe Festivals and Events

Honghe Festivals and Activities include a brief introduction of main festivals and activities in Honghe prefecture, and tell travelers what to do during Honghe Festivals Tours. As the main minority inhabited in Honghe, Hani and Yi people created brilliant culture and customs, among which the unique ethnic festivals of Hani enjoy high reputation and attract a crowd of tourists. 

Festivals in Honghe

Besides some Chinese traditional festivals, like New Year's Day (January 1), Spring Festival (usually in late Jan. or early Feb.; January 25, 2020), Lantern Festival (The 15th day of the 1st lunar month), Tomb Sweeping Day (15 days after the Spring equinox; April 4, 2020), Dragon Boat Festival(The 5th day of the 5th lunar month; June 25, 2020) and Mid-Autumn Day (The 15th day of the 8th lunar month; September 13, 2019), there are some ethnic festivals in Hognhe prefecture as well. Yi and Hani ethnic minorities constitute the major ethnic population in Honghe, and they contribute the diversity to the ethnic culture in Honghe. 

Ethnic Festivals in Yuanyang, Jianshui and Mengzi

Date Festivals Ethnic Minority
Before the beginning of spring ploughing(usually in the mid-January) AngMaTu Festival Hani Ethnic Minority
Usually on the 24th day of the 6th lunar month Torch Festival Yi Ethnic Minority
April 13- April 15, 2020 Water Splashing Festival Dai Ethnic Minority
Mainly in 10th lunar month Habo Long Street Banquet Hani Ethnic Minority
The 4th day of the 2nd lunar month Girls Festival (Guniangjie) Hani Ethnic Minority
In April Kawopeng Festival Hani Ethnic Minority
Usually on the 24th day of the 6th lunar month Torch Festival Yi Ethnic Minority
During Spring Festival Lantern Festival of Jianshui Confucius Temple All ethnic groups
27 Sep.-7 Oct. Confucius Culture Festival All ethnic groups
In early 5th lunar month Huashan Festival Miao Ethnic Minority
Usually on the 24th day of the 6th lunar calendar Torch Festival Yi Ethnic Minority
On the 5th day of the 5th lunar month Dragon Boat Festival All ethnic groups

Other Ethnic Festivals

Date festivals Ethnic Minority Location
October 1 of the islamic calendar(May 23, 2020) Eid al-Fitr Festival Hui Ethnic Minority Gejiu City
Early December of the islamic calendar(August 11, 2020) Eid al-Adha Festival Hui Ethnic Minority Gejiu City
Usually on the 24th day of the 6th lunar calendar Torch Festival Yi Ethnic Minority Luomo Village in Gejiu
In early 5th lunar month Huashan Festival Miao Ethnic Minority Mile City
In the 6th lunar month Colored Rice Festival Zhuang Ethnic Minority Pingbian County
The First Horse day after Spring Festival Dragon Worship (Jilong) Festival Huayao Yi Ethnic Minority Shiping County
The First Pig Day in the 6th Lunar Month Duanwu Festival Zhuang Ethnic Minority Yongning Township in Luxi County
In the 6th lunar month Kuzhazha Festival Hani Ethnic Minority Leyu Town in Honghe County
Before and after the May Kaiyangmen Festival Hani Ethnic Minority Honghe County
Before the beginning of spring ploughing(usually in the mid-January) AngMaTu (Dragon Worship) Festival Hani Ethnic Minority Jinping County
In April Bitter Bamboo Shoots Festival Hani Ethnic Minority Jinping County
After Spring Festival Guniang Festival or Girl’s Day Yi Ethnic Minority Laojizhai Town in Jinping County
The 8th day of the 4th lunar month Ox King(Niuwang) Festival Buyi Ethnic Minority Hekou County
Usually in farm leisure time after autumn harvest and before Spring Festival(The 16th day of the 10th lunar month) Panwang Festival Yao Ethnic Minority Hekou County
The 13th day of the 1st lunar month Xuntianba Festival Dai Ethnic Minority Lvchun County
The 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month Men's Day Dai Ethnic Minority Jinping County
11-13 August Axi Tiaoyue Dance Festival Axi Ethnic People Mile City
The First Monkey Day of the 4th Lunar Month YangAna Festival Yiche Ethnic People Honghe County
The First Rooster or Monkey Day after the 24th Day of the 6th Lunar Month Grasshopper Catching Festival Ethnic Minority Lvchun County

Activities in Honghe

As a popular tourist destination, Honghe prefecture offers various kinds of recreative activities. Stepping into local traditional markets, taking part in a traditional ethnic festival and eating long street banquet, you will experience the ethnic culture in Honghe personally. 

Activities Location Notes
Wanyao Pottery Maker Wanyao Village in Jianshui County Learn pottery making
Honghe Hani Rice Terraces Culture Tourism Festival Yuanyang County Hani rice terrace farming culture; Long Street Banquet
Jiajizhai Pear Blossoms Festival Jiajizhai Village in Gejiu City Pear blossoms
Huadeng Dance or Lantern Dance of Yi Ethnic Minority Yongning Village in Mengzi City Yongning Village is the origin of Huadeng Dance or Lantern Dance of Yi.
Sanbuxian Dance(三步弦舞) Lengquan Village in Mengzi City Ethnic dance of Yi Ethnic Minority
Apple Picking Festival Xibeile Township in Mengzi Apple picking
Bull Fighting Activities Xibeile Township in Mengzi Activity of Yi ethnic minority
Pomegranate Festival Mengzi City Pomegranate
Xizhuang Rural Tourism Cultural Festival Shuidaying Village of Xizhuang Town in Jianshui County Tourism and culture
Jianshui Purple Pottery Cultural Tourism Festival Jianshui County Purple pottery
Song and Dance Festival   Shiping County Huayao Yi People(花腰彝)
Plateau Pear Festival Luxi County Plateau Pear
Red Bayberry Festival Shiping County Red Bayberry; Every year in May
The Grape Harvest Festival Mile City From late June to early July
Crossing-The-Bridge Rice Noodle Festival Mengzi City 24-27 Sep; Crossing-the-bridge rice noodle

Local Ethnic Markets

Date Markets Notes
Every Sunday Laomeng Sunday Market In Jinping County; Farm products; Local specialties
Every 4 Days Shengcun Market In Yuanyang County; Ethnic minority; Local specialties
Every Monday Laozhai Monday Market In Mengzi City; Farm products; Local specialties
Every 6 Days Jinping Market In Jinping County; Ethnic minority; Local specialties
Every 6 Days Nafa Market In Jinping County; Ethnic minority; Local specialties; China-Vietnam border
Every 6 Days Laojizhai Market In Jinping County; Ethnic minority; Local specialties
Every 6 Days Pinghe Market Pinghe Town of Luchun County; Ethnic minority
Every 6 Days Luchun Market In Lvchun County; Local specialties
On Every Horse, Dog and Tiger day Niujiaozhai Market Day In Yuanyang County; Ethnic minority; Local specialties
On Every Rooster and Rabbit day Shalatuo Market Day In Yuanyang County; Ethnic minority; Local specialties
On Every Dragon and Dog day Ganiang Market Day In Yuanyang County; Ethnic minority; Local specialties
Every Saturday Huangmaoling Market Day In Yuanyang County; Local specialties
On Every Horse and Rat day Majie Market Day In Yuanyang County; Local specialties
Every Friday Huangcaoling Market Day In Yuanyang County; Local specialties

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