Tacheng Town Festivals and Events

Tibetan, Naxi, Lisu, Han, Yi, Bai, Pumi and Hui people inhabit in Tacheng Town for generations. Tacheng Town is the only place which inherits the complete classical Tibetan Reba dance and it’s regarded as "The hometown of Reba Arts". Tacheng Reba Art Festival in Weixi County is annually celebrated on March 28  of the Chinese lunar calendar. The way to celebrate Spring Festival varies from one ethnic group to another ethnic group. There are also many other festivals in Tacheng Town. People will dress up on holidays, dancing and singing, organizing various folk activities.

1. Kuoshi (阔什)

In Tacheng Town Weixi County is an intimate festival known as Kuoshi. It is a way to welcome spring time. It usually lasts for a couple of days, though in some places the affair can be good for an entire month. Like the other festivals, there will be a lot of dancing and singing, with men and women garbed in their traditional costumes. They also create their rice wines by preparing them over sand. Interestingly, the wines are served in bowls, which are then shared by two people. Even if you are a foreigner, you can join the celebration and partake with the wine.

2. Sword Ladder Climbing Festival (刀杆节)

Ever climbed up a swaying pole over thirty-six sharpened machete-blades on your bare feet? Well, if you cant not cut out to be a Lisu man. Yes, it hurts. No, no-one really get injured. How come? Well, you have to be a Lisu man to do it.

3. Shouhuo (Harvest) Festival (收获节)

The Shouhuo (Harvest) Festival of Lisu Ethnic Minority is generally held every September and October of the lunar calendar. The biggest activity of the Harvest Festival is that everyone is making wine and has a taste of what is just in season. Some people even go to the ground and harvest and drink wine, accompanied by singing and dancing, they often go all night and enjoy themselves.

4. Thanksgiving Day (感恩节)

More than 100 years ago, the missionaries brought Thanksgiving Day to Lisu people. Nowadays, it has become a folk festival cherished by the monks, and the national characteristics are rich. The dates for Thanksgiving Day are different in different churches and regions, which will be customized according to the harvest time or the situation in the village, but generally after the autumn harvest.

5. Tacheng Reba Folk Art (塔城热巴民间艺术)

There is an ancient ritual song and dance used for sacrifice etiquette in Tacheng Town Weixi County-Reba. Tacheng Town known as the hometown of "song and dance", there are mainly Tibetan, Lisu, Naxi, Bai ethnic groups. Originally known as “Lapu”, “Shenchuan” in Tibetan, therefore, it is also called "Tacheng Reba" as "Shenchuan Reba". “Shenchuan Reba” in Tacheng Town belongs to a classical dance style, performing dance with unique style and long history. It is a large-scale collective song and dance composed of drums, dances and monologues. It is an orthodox classical school. Reba develops a school of one's own in the Tibetan areas.