Jinping County Festivals and Events

There are 9 ethnic groups living in Jinping County for generations. They are Miao, Yao, Dai, Hani, Yi, Han, Zhuang, Lahu and Bulan respectively. Each ethnic group in Jinping County has its own festival. Among so many ethnic festivals, Men's Festival in Zhemi Lahu ethnic town is most hilarious. Here below are some festivals and activities in Jinping County.

Festivals in Jinping County

1. Men's Festival男人节

Dai people, who live in Zhemi Lahu ethnic town, Jinping County, Yunnan province, still carry on this traditional festival———Men’s Festival. Every year, on the 29th day of the first lunar month, the whole villagers make Baba(Baba means a kind of food like cake, it is Yunnan dialect), kill the chicken and pig to celebrate this festival.

2. Angmatu Festival昂玛突

Angmatu festival is a sacrificial activity of Hani people, helding before annual spring ploughing(usually in the middle of January). To pray for a good weather for crops, good grain harvest, people and livestock are safe and sound in the coming year, Hani people prepare long street banquet, sing and dance. The event lasts 3 to 5 days.

3. Bitter Bamboo Shoots Festival苦笋节

At Nanke Village, Jinshuihe Town of Jinping County, Hani people celebrate Bitter Bamboo Shoots Festivla every March when bitter bamboo shoots are growning. To pray for good weather and good harvest in the coming year.

4. Panwang Festival盘王节

Panwang Festival is a great festival for Yao ethnic people to worship their ancestors, Pan Gu, pan Geng and Pan Hu. It has more than 1700 years history. Yao people in different areas celebrate the festival in different time, but usually in farm leisure time after autumn harvest and before Spring Festival.

5. Huashan Festival花山节

Every year, the second day of Lunar January is the traditional festival of Miao people, Huashan Festival, also known as "Caihuashan". Flower pole is the significant symbol of the festival. On this day, Miao people wear traditional costume, perform Lusheng(芦笙表演) and choose the king of flower pole.

6. Kuzhazha Festival苦扎扎节

Celebrated in the middle of the 6th lunar month, Kuzhazha Festival is also called June festival. It is one of the grandest traditional festivals of Hani people as hilarious as Spring Festival of Han people. Its main activities are playing the swing, wrestling, singing and dancing.

7. Guniang Festival/Girl's Festival

Every year, in the first Ox day after Spring Festival, it is the Guniang Festival, a traditional festival of Alu people(a branch of Yi) in Jinping county. At the day, Men in Alu villages kill pig, cow, chicken, duck, and prepare a rich dinner to appreciate women. In addition, for women, Guniang Festival is a good to choose a spouse.

8. Water-splashing Festival

Every year, the Water-splashing Festival is counted by the Dai calendar. The specific time is roughly on April 14, 15 and 16 in the Solar calendar. It is blessed, happy and passionate festival to pray for washing away the past year’s bad things and welcoming the New Year.

Activities in Jinping County

1. Jinping Markets

There are many ethnic markets in Jinping County, including Laojizhai Market, Laomen Sunday Market, Nafa Market and so on. When traveling in Jinping County, stroll around the ethnic markets and experience local custom by your own feet.

2. Long Street Banquet

Long street banquet means "ring out the Old Year and ring in the New Year". At the day of long street banquet, every family in the Hani villages prepares food, and puts these food into a long banquet. All people taste food, toast each other, sing and dance together. Long Street Banquet is divided into three types, village God worship long street banquet, June festival long street banquet and October festival long street banquet. It shows Hani culture, costume and musical dance.

More entertainments in Jinping County.