Long-street feast set up in Yuanyang for Angmatu Festival
The Long-Street Banquet (长街宴) in Yuanyang is part of the Angmatu Festival, which is celebrated by the Hani people in Yunnan Province, China. This festival usually occurs after the harvest season, around the 10th day of the first lunar month, which would typically fall somewhere between late January and February in the Gregorian calendar.
Angmatu Festival Introduction:
- The Angmatu Festival, also known as the “Street Banquet of Thousands of Families,” is a traditional Hani ethnic festival.
- It’s a time for the Hani people to celebrate the end of the harvest and to pray for a good crop in the coming year.
- The festival includes various cultural activities, such as bullfighting, folk singing and dancing, and the iconic Long-Street Banquet.
Long-Street Banquet:
- The Long-Street Banquet is a highlight of the festival, where hundreds of tables are set up along the streets of the village, forming a long banquet that can stretch for kilometers.
- Families prepare food and share it with others, symbolizing unity and communal harmony.
- Visitors are often welcomed to join in the feast, experiencing the local hospitality and cuisine.
Travel Tips:
- Plan Ahead: Since this festival occurs in a rural area, it’s essential to plan your trip in advance, especially regarding transportation and accommodation.
- Respect Local Traditions: Always show respect for local customs and participate politely in the festivities.
- Try Local Food: The banquet is an excellent opportunity to try authentic Hani cuisine, but be mindful of any dietary restrictions you may have.
How to Get to Yuanyang:
Yuanyang is famous for its rice terraces and is located in the south of Yunnan Province. Getting to Yuanyang generally involves:
- From Kunming: Take a bus from Kunming to Yuanyang. The journey can take around 6-7 hours.
- Local Transportation: Once in Yuanyang, you may need to arrange for local transportation to reach the specific village where the festival is taking place.
Address and Exact Location:
As Yuanyang covers a large area with many villages, the exact location of the Long-Street Banquet can vary. It’s best to check with local tourism information centers or your hotel in Yuanyang for the precise location of the festival activities in the year you plan to visit.
The Angmatu Festival and its Long-Street Banquet provide a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry of the Hani people and to experience rural Yunnan’s hospitality and traditions.
The news was updated on January 16, 2020.
A long-street feast was set up on January 12 in south Yunnan’s Yuanyang County for the traditional Angmatu Festival of the Hani ethnic group.
The Hani minority hosts the Angmatu Festival to worship their deities of the citadel and the dragon god for a good harvest by presenting offerings.
Around 400 tables were laid end to end along the street stretching over 500 meters, with each family contributing delicacies and good wines.
The feast is coupled by traditional performances of the Hani people, including singing and dancing.
Tourists home and abroad are asked to join the feast. “It’s my first time to be here, and I felt the warmth from local folks,” said Zhu Yali, a tourist from Yunnan’s neighboring Sichuan province.
Source from http://english.yunnan.cn/html/2020/flavor_0116/18653.html
