XishuangBanna Festivals and Events

Xishuangbanna festivals and activities tell you what to do during the festival tour in Xishuangbanna, and they will surely enrich your Yunnan Travel.  It is a place where multi-ethnic groups inhabit. The main minorities are Dai, Hani, Lahu, Yao, Hui, Yi, Miao and Zhuang, etc. Different nationalities create different cultures. Therefore, there are diverse festivals in Xishuangbanna.

Xishuangbanna Festivals

Dai and Hani ethnic minorities constitute the major ethnic population in Xishuangbanna, and they contribute rich diversities to the ethnic culture in Xishuangbanna, including the ethnic festivals and activities. The most well-known ones are Water Splashing Festival of Dai people and Gatangpa Festival of Hani people.

Popular Ethnic Festivals in Xishuangbanna

Festivals by Regions in Xishuangbanna

Jinghong City

Date Festival  Ethnic Minority
Dec 15 of Dai Calendar (November) Loy Krathong Festival Dai Ethnic Minority
April 13 -15 Water Splashing Festival  Dai Ethnic Minority
Feb 6-8 Temaoke Festival Jinuo Ethnic Minority

Menghai County

Date Festival  Ethnic Minority
June 24th of lunar calendar  Grasshopper Festival Hani Ethnic Minority
April 9 -16 Water Splashing Festival Dai Ethnic Minority
Some day during April 9 -16 Ganbai Festival Dai Ethnic Minority
August 15th of lunar calendar New Rice (Xinmijie) Festival  Lahu Ethnic Minority
April 9 -16 Sangkang Festival  Bulang Ethnic Minority
Sept 28-Oct 3 King of Tea Tree Festival Hani Ethnic Minority
Jan 3 Gatangpa Festival Hani Ethnic Minority

Mengla County

Date Festival  Ethnic Minority
December Wotuo Festival Ake Ethnic People
December Etuo Festival Ake Ethnic People
Jan 11-12 Gatangpa Festival Aka Ethnic People
April 10-16 Water Splashing Festival Dai Ethnic Minority
Late December Magele Festival  Kemu Ethnic People
Feb 8th of lunar calendar Baishijia Festival Yi Ethnic Minority
October 16th of lunar calendar Panwang Festival Yao Ethnic Minority
June 23 Zhuzhu Festival Yao Ethnic Minority
First market date after Spring Festival Guniangjie (Girls Street) Festival Yao Ethnic Minority

Other Traditional Ethnic Festivals

Date Festival  Ethnic Minority
April 13-17 Worship of Tea Ancestor Festival  Bulang Ethnic Minority
Mid June -Sept of lunar calendar Guanmen (Closing Door) Festival Bulang Ethnic Minority
10days after Qingming Festival Spring Festival (Xinnian) Festival Bulang Ethnic Minority
April 13-15 Hounan Festival Bulang Ethnic Minority
August or September of lunar calendar Haoxizao Festival  Jinuo Ethni Minority
June 16th of lunar calendar Getang Festival  Yao Ethnic Minority
June 16th of lunar calendar  Daogao Festival Yao Ethnic Minority
May 29th of lunar calendar Zhangrou Daike Festival  Yao Ethnic Minority
August of lunar calendar New Rice Festival (Xinmijie)  Hani Ethnic Minority
October of lunar calendar Zhalete Festival  Hani Ethnic Minority
Feb 1st of lunar calendar Ganniao Festival Yao Ethnic Minority
Jan 1st of lunar calendar Spring Festival  Yao Ethnic Minority
/ Coming-of-Age Ceremony Festival Jinuo Ethni Minority

Activities in Xishuangbanna

Diverse ethnic festivals also contribute to the various activities in Xishuangbanna. For your Xishuangbanna Festival Tours, you can join in the activities such as water splashing and dancing with local ethnic people, go to the rural markets and pick teas at the tea plantations.

Festival Activities

Activity Location  Theme
Water Splashing Festival Thoughout Xishuangbanna Water splashing, flower floats parade
Ganbai Festival Designated sites such as Manting Park, Gaozhuang Xishuangjing, Gasa Town Festival fair
King of Tea Tree Festival Menghai Tea-tasting, tea processing craft, tea-themed food culture
Kaimen (Opening Door ) Festival Dai villages Dai temple fair
Guanmen (Closing Door) Festival  Dai villages Dai religion activity
Xishuangbanna Border Trade and Tourism Fair International Exhibition Center in Jinghong City Border Trade and Tourism

Local Ethnic Markets

Date  Activity Theme
Every Thursday Xiding Thursday Market in Menghai County Farm products, local specialties
Every Saturday Menghun Saturday Market in Menghai County Farm products, local specialties
Every Sunday Menghai Sunday Market Farm products, local specialties
Every Morning Ganlanba Morning Market Farm products, local specialties

Read More:

Keep Reading

Magele Festival of Kemu Ethnic People in Mengla County, XishuangBanna

Magele Festival of Kemu Ethnic People in Mengla County, XishuangBanna

Chinese Name: 西双版纳勐腊县克木人玛格勒节/红花节 English Name: Magele Festival of Kemu Ethnic People in Mengla County, XishuangBanna Location:西双版纳勐腊县卡咪村、南欠村和回伞村 Magele Festival of Kemu Ethnic People is held in Kami Village, Nanqian Village...

Ake Ethnic People    Veiw
Kuzhazha Festival (Liuyuenian) of Hani Ethnic Minority

Kuzhazha Festival (Liuyuenian) of Hani Ethnic Minority

Chinese Name: 哈尼族苦扎扎节 English Name: Kuzhazha Festival (Liuyuenian) of Hani Ethnic Minority 苦扎扎节,也叫六月年,在每年农历6月中旬举行。是红河哈 尼族人民盛大的传统节日,犹如汉族过春节一样热闹隆重。老人们围坐在场上喝酒取乐,孩子们追逐 戏要,青年人则围成圈子,跳起了扇子舞、竹棍舞、乐作舞。锣鼓 声、琴弦声、欢呼声交织在一起,在群山间回荡,一个不眠的狂欢 之夜开始了。 中文名 哈尼族苦扎扎节 别 称 六月年 时 间 每年农历6月中旬 来 源 红河哈 尼族人民 节日简介...

Festivals and Events    Veiw
New Rice Festival (Xinmijie) of Hani Ethnic Minority

New Rice Festival (Xinmijie) of Hani Ethnic Minority

Chinese Name: 哈尼族新米节 English Name: New Rice Festival (Xinmijie) of Hani Ethnic Minority 新米节是哈尼族的传统农事节日。哈尼语称为“吃新米饭”;红河州叫做“车实扎”,汉译新米节;另有些地方称“卡奴抽也”“约普墨切”。每年农历八月,当田里稻谷泛起杨梅色的时候,择日举行。有些地方选在龙日,因为“龙”在哈尼语里有“多起来”“增添”的意思。 哈尼人希望经过吃新谷、喝新谷酒的仪式,预祝稻谷丰收,越吃越多。节日这天早晨,每家户主来到稻田边,选一个穗长粒大的稻穗,搓下少量稻谷、用树叶包好挂在田里,以示稻田多结稻谷。他们还釆一把谷穗带回家去,椿出新米,做成新米饭,摆设新谷酒,宴请村中头人或家族亲戚。他们还用一部分新米爆米花。在晚饭之前,每家都要先用新米饭,米花等祭祀祖先,再用米花喂狗。 据说,很古以前,世间所有作物在一次大洪水时都被冲走了。水退后,一只小鸟发现了一穗稻谷,正欲啄食,一只狗吓飞了小鸟,检回了谷种,从此人们才重新种植水稻。因此,每逢哈尼人吃新谷,定要先献给狗吃。也有地方传说,是天神之女俄玛背着父亲,偷偷将稻谷种送给人间,并教会哈尼人耕种的方法,结果天神震怒,将她变成狗发配人间。哈尼人不忘她的功德,因而年年祭献。 祭祀结束,家人及宾客们才开始享用丰盛的谷饭,新米酒。据说,吃得越多越饱越好,秋收时稻谷才会粒粒饱满,永远吃不完。过完新米节,便开始动镰秋收了。 http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5f334cf30102v4j1.html...

Festivals and Events    Veiw
Songlong (Dragon Worship) Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority

Songlong (Dragon Worship) Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority

Chinese Name: 傣族送龙节 English Name: Songlong (Dragon Worship) Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority 送龙节为西双版纳大勐龙傣族特有的节日,每逢盛世、庄稼好、生活富足时就举行送龙节。所谓“送龙”是送祭品给龙神,意为龙神开恩照顾,带来好日子,所以要报谢龙神。送龙节的日子,一般在公历一月,春节之前,由佛爷出面组织,家家户户有的送美食,有的送衣物,富裕的甚至送金银首饰、钱币、毛毯等,人人都可参加,外人也欢迎,无大禁忌。 各类物品送到佛寺后,佛寺组织巧匠编扎“龙宫”,佛爷念经、祭祀,把各户送来的礼物扎放在“龙宫”上,全体参祭人员敲锣打鼓,把“龙宫”抬到勐龙河上,再次举行仪式后,把“龙宫”放在竹筏上,让竹筏在一片祝祷、诵经声中漂流而去,就算“送”给龙神了。...

Dai Ethnic Minority    Veiw
Huajie (Flower Street) Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority

Huajie (Flower Street) Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority

Chinese Name: 傣族情人节/花街节/赶花街 English Name: Huajie (Flower Street) Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority 花街节,一种是群众游园式的交流盛会,这主要分布在云南的花腰傣和文山壮族群众中;一种是云南宜良的花市,时间和形式各有不同,但都有着其独特的魅力。花街节是花腰傣的特殊节日,因为花街节是青年男女交流择偶的重要形式,当地称为“赶花街”,被称为“东方的情人节”。 http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_7a4e91c80102wyza.html...

Dai Ethnic Minority    Veiw
Offering Grave (Jifen) Festival of Bulang Ethnic Minority

Offering Grave (Jifen) Festival of Bulang Ethnic Minority

Chinese Name:布朗族祭坟节 English Name:  Offering Grave (Jifen) Festival of Bulang Ethnic Minority 施甸布朗族各村寨祭坟的次数有一定差异。有的村寨每年祭坟两次,如木老元乡的哈寨。一次是农历六月二十三日,施甸布朗族在这一天要扫墓、祭祖,这种习俗与汉族、彝族“清明节”去扫墓的习俗相同,但并不以“清明节”相称,并且在时间上也不与当地汉族、彝族的祭坟时问相同。供坟前要先清除长在坟头上的那些杂草,然后把供品放在坟前,烧香、烧纸钱和跪拜,求祖先保佑平安。原来还有上坟时的“放水”习俗,将一罐水埋置于坟地,上坟时挖出看水的深浅浊清预测来年家运。   另一次是腊月二十三日。施甸布朗族首先将祖先“接”回家过节,在堂屋的神龛前备些供品,即饭菜、酒肉、水果等,并进行跪拜仪式。到了次日,整个大家族的人在家长的带领下聚在一起上祖坟,献供品、烧香、烧纸钱、修理坟墓,清除坟头上的杂草,待磕头跪拜完毕后,大家便到坟旁烧火煮饭、煮鸡肉等,一起吃了晚饭后才分别回家。   有的村寨每年只祭坟一次,如摆榔乡大中山村。   布朗族青年赵兴国说:“‘祭坟节’要到坟前杀鸡祭拜,这样的活动我们村每年只有一次,其实‘祭坟节’就是只过农历十二月二十四日那一天。”具体做法是在每年农历十二月二十三日晚上,用九住香、三碗饭以及肉、纸钱等物,到自家的大门外供奉迎接祖宗之魂,把祖宗“接”回家。到了第二天,即农历十二月二十四日那天,整个家族的人要到坟地上清理坟上的草,然后杀鸡祭拜,燃香磕头祭坟,然后在那里一起煮饭吃。   而在每年的“火把节”时,即农历六月二十三日晚要“接祖”回家过节,次日中午便将三灶香和一碗饭等供物摆到大门外,口中说着求平安祈吉利类的话以“送祖”。但“火把节”期间村寨里的布朗族是不上坟的,即不到坟地祭拜。   这种祭坟次数差异,体现出了施甸布朗族文化的区域性差别,同时这种差异是较小的。...

Bulang Ethnic Minority    Veiw
Guanmen (Closing Door) Festival of Bulang Ethnic Minority

Guanmen (Closing Door) Festival of Bulang Ethnic Minority

Chinese Name:布朗族关门节/考瓦沙 English Name:  Guanmen (Closing Door) Festival of Bulang Ethnic Minority 关门节—关门节又称“考瓦沙”,是部分信仰小乘佛教的布朗族人的宗教节日,每年傣历九月十五日至十二月间(农历六月中旬至九月)举行,流传于云南省的西南和南部布朗族聚居地区。关门节即关起爱情、婚姻之门,关门节时,禁止本族青年男女谈情说爱和结婚。每年傣历九月十五日的这一天,布朗族全寨赎佛,到缅寺听经、滴水。年满40岁以上男女中老年人要住缅寺,全寨停止生产一天。晚上,青年击鼓跳舞,村寨充满了节日的气氛。   一大早,家家户户都在忙着蒸彩色糯米饭和制作糕点,贼佛或馈赠亲友,备办酒席会餐。三天后,将缅寺大门关门三个月,僧侣日夜诵经,禁出寺院。   在关门节的三个月期间,民众到佛寺里听高僧讲经是一项主要活动。高僧讲授的内容以成佛者的故事为主,并以此来教化众生立志成佛。从关门节至开门节的三个月期间,傣家人不举行婚礼,不建盖新房,不出远门,要集中精力搞生产,定期到佛寺拜佛、贼佛,虔诚信佛的长者,自觉戒斋,穿白衣服,包白布头巾,有的还到寺内住宿,每隔七天举行一次拜佛活动。届时,信众们带上食物、蜡条供祭佛祖,聆听寺内高僧颂经,讲解教规、戒律、佛经故事。还要举行一次称为“赎坦”(献经书)的重大活动。三个月的关门节日期届满,即傣历十二月十五日,便举行开门节庆祝活动。信众们像参加关门节庆祝活动一样,带上纸花、蜡条、花树、食物、钱币来到佛寺,举行隆重的败佛和颂经活动,也像关门节一样吃施舍饭、僧众聚餐,和关门节一样的热闹与欢乐。夜里,在佛寺内燃放火花、放高升、点孔明灯、跳舞,并舞灯环游村寨,庆祝安居斋戒期结束,表示已从关门期进人开门期。这个夜晚之后,村寨又恢复往日的多情浪漫的生活,僧侣们即可以走出佛门,信众可以出远门,农户可以盖新房,小伙子们可以和姑娘约会,恋人可以举行婚礼。   每当关门节来临时,一般在佛历9月14日(阳历7月15日),布朗族信教群众就要忙着准备到佛寺里烧香拜佛的用品,男人们忙于制作金银花篮和其他布施用品,女人们开始包粽子、蒸肉等和准备第二天清晨到佛寺里败(布施)滴水听经所需的东西。这一天,西双版纳所有的布朗族村寨都要举行滴水仪式,人们清晨起来就开始准备要带到佛寺里的用品,随后信徒们会争先恐后地进到佛寺里敬献物品。据说,谁进佛寺最早谁就先得功德。在佛寺里,人们洗耳恭听佛爷念的关门(入夏)《功德经》、《阿毗达摩经》等经文,滴水祈福,祈祷人畜平安,同时呼唤死去亲人的在天之灵,愿他们关注人间,保佑活着的亲人吉祥平安,请他们接受亲人们祭供的物品。佛爷诵读《平安经》,告诫人们:“新年的关门节已经到来,愿佛祖保佑大家幸福平安;今年又是个吉祥年,愿大家在三个月的守夏期间,虔诚布施持戒,努力劳作耕耘,以身、以语、以心消除贪欲、慎怒和愚痴;做人要守信用,做和尚要守持戒律;要尊老爱幼、和睦相处、互敬互爱直到结束生命!”   人们听完佛爷诵经后返回家中,向家里的爷爷、奶奶、父母等长辈(苏玛)谢罪、祝福,在得到老人的原谅和祝福后,开始虔诚地进人三个月的守夏期。在这期间,人们围绕三个月的守夏期该做的事情而忙碌着。...

Bulang Ethnic Minority    Veiw
Kaimen (Opening Door) Festival of Bulang Ethnic Minority

Kaimen (Opening Door) Festival of Bulang Ethnic Minority

Chinese Name:布朗族开门节/奥瓦沙 English Name:  Kaimen (Opening Door) Festival of Bulang Ethnic Minority 布朗族开门节于每年傣历十二月十五日举行。全村信徒携带贡品前往缅寺施舍功德,老人进缅寺听佛爷诵经,三日后返家,期间全村停止生产。这三天的夜晚,青年男女尽情唱歌跳舞,击鼓锣。三天后,将缅寺大门打开,僧侣可以出门串寨。   历时三个月的守夏期即将结束,人们在节日期间按照宗教习俗做好各种传统佛事活动后,整个西双版纳地区信奉南传上座部佛教的布朗族群众,就开始着手迎接开门节的到来。届时,山寨热闹非凡,呈现出一派节日景象。各家各户制作金银花篮、劫波树等贩物。佛历12月14日这天,布朗族妇女们下山到坝子购买要带到佛寺里敬献的物品,在家里准备布施给居士们的粽子及食品。第二天清晨,到佛寺里敬香膜拜的人们,带着各自制作的赕物,陆续来到佛寺,按先后顺序进入佛寺敬献物品,听经受戒、滴水祈福。佛爷向信徒们传教开门(出夏)《功德经》及《阿毗达摩经》(大法),教育人们谨记守夏的功德,出夏后继续以身、以语、以意布施持戒,多行善事,积聚功德。   开门节是西双版纳民族文化与宗教文化相融合后而出现的民族节日,是信奉南传上座部佛教的傣族、布朗族共同的文化现象,佛教色彩也注入这一节日当中,在节日期间有许多丰富的佛教文化活动。这个节日是佛教文化与民间传统文化相结合的产物,傣族、布朗族人民将它视为一年中最神圣的节日。...

Bulang Ethnic Minority    Veiw
Coming-of-Age Ceremony of Jinuo Ethni Minority

Coming-of-Age Ceremony of Jinuo Ethni Minority

Chinese Name: 基诺族成人礼(成年节) English Name: Coming-of-Age Ceremony (Chengnianjie) Festival of Jinuo Ethni Minority http://www.sohu.com/a/128890596_100279...

Festivals and Events    Veiw
Haoxizao Festival of Jinuo Ethni Minority

Haoxizao Festival of Jinuo Ethni Minority

Chinese Name: 基诺族好希早节(新米节) English Name: Haoxizao Festival of Jinuo Ethni Minority Haoxizao Festival of Jinuo Ethnic Minority also called Axizao Festival, people celebrate this festival on Tiger’s Day (every...

Festivals and Events    Veiw
Getang Festival of Yao Ethnic Minority

Getang Festival of Yao Ethnic Minority

Chinese Name: 瑶族歌堂节/耍歌堂 English Name: Getang Festival of Yao Ethnic Minority...

Festivals and Events    Veiw
Daogao Festival of Yao Ethnic Minority

Daogao Festival of Yao Ethnic Minority

Chinese Name: 瑶族倒稿节 English Name: Daogao Festival of Yao Ethnic Minority...

Festivals and Events    Veiw