Mojiang International Twins Festival, Puer

Mojang County is located in the southern part of Yunnan Province and the eastern part of Pu’er City. The Tropic of Cancer passes through the city, dividing it into two parts and creating a unique geographical climate with one side being temperate and the other side tropical. It is an important stop on the southern Yunnan tourism route and a must – pass place for traveling to Pu’er and Xishuangbanna, with a very advantageous geographical location. Surrounded by mountains and rivers, the natural scenery here is breathtakingly beautiful.

Cultural History

Mojang is the only Hani Autonomous County in China, with a long history and profound cultural heritage. Since 2005, the International Twins Festival has been held here and has become a very influential characteristic festival in China. There are many twins in Mojiang, with more than 1200 pairs of twins (and triplets) in the county, which makes it truly deserving of the reputation of “the hometown of twins”. It is said that there is a mysterious “twins well” in Hexi Village near the county town, and its water has a magical effect. Many newly – married couples come to drink the water, hoping to conceive twins. In addition, Mojiang also integrates unique Tropic of Cancer culture and Hani culture. The combination of various cultures forms a rich and colorful cultural landscape.

Origin of the Festival

Located on the Tropic of Cancer, Mojiang County is situated in Pu’er City, Yunnan Province. It is an important stop on the tourist route in southern Yunnan and a must-pass way to Pu’er and Xishuangbanna. Known for its titles as the “Hani Homeland, City of Return, and Home of Twins,” Mojiang is famous for its high twin birth rate. The county is home to over 1,200 pairs of twins (and triplets), earning it the reputation of being the “Home of Twins.” The legendary “Twin Well” in Twin Town attracts many newlywed couples who come to drink from its waters.

Since the inception of the International Twins Festival in 2005, ten successful festivals have been held. This year, the “11th China Mojiang Tropic of Cancer International Twins Festival and Hani Sun Festival” will take place in Mojiang County, Pu’er City, Yunnan Province.

Folklore

Twin Culture

Twins are regarded as a symbol of good fortune in Mojiang. During the festival, twins from all over the world, dressed in gorgeous traditional ethnic costumes, participate in various activities. They showcase their talents through performances, take part in the Twin Star Talent Competition and twin check – ins, becoming a unique highlight of the festival.

Hani Ethnic Folklore

Smearing Festival: In Hani culture, black symbolizes the expulsion of evil. During the festival, people smear soot from the bottom of pots on each other’s faces, which means “wiping away” bad luck and praying for peace and well – being in the coming year. In the lively atmosphere, everyone shares the same joy and conveys their best wishes to each other.
Long Street Banquet: The Hani Long Street Banquet is set up along both sides of the pedestrian street, with a grand scene. People sit together, enjoying the local specialties such as Zimi Sealed – jar Wine and Hani Fermented Soybeans, sharing the happiness of the festival. It reflects the Hani people’s warm – heartedness, hospitality, unity and friendliness.
Dragon Sacrifice: The Hani Biyue people have the custom of sacrificing to the dragon. They select a tall and vigorous twin tree in the forest as the dragon tree and set the first day of the dragon in February as the day of the dragon sacrifice. They hold a memorial ceremony to pray for the safety of the whole village, a good harvest of the crops and the prosperity of the livestock.

Past Events

The 15th Mojiang International Twins Festival was held on November 27, 2019, in conjunction with the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Mojiang Hani Autonomous County. This festival featured local Hani sisters Ma Qianya and Ma Qianyi as ambassadors and invited twin pairs from 11 countries, including Russia, India, the United States, Poland, Niger, Uzbekistan, Lithuania, Iran, Nigeria, Greece, and Ukraine, along with notable figures such as the tallest twins in the world, the LavTwins, synchronized swimming world champions Jiang Wenwen and Jiang Tingting, pop musician and producer Xu Ziwei, national first-class actor Yang Qianlin, and many other celebrities.

The 18th Mojiang Tropic of Cancer International Twins Festival and Hani Sun Festival will be held from May 1 to May 5, 2024, featuring over 20 activities, including bonfire parties, secret weddings, a metaverse electronic music festival, street folk music, and a hundred-meter-long painting project.

Weather

Mojang has a subtropical mountain monsoon climate, with a mild climate all year round and an average annual temperature of about 18.4℃. The annual precipitation is relatively abundant. From May to October is the rainy season, with more rainfall; from November to the following April is the dry season, which is relatively dry.

Best Time to Visit

The International Twins Festival is usually held from May 1st to May 3rd every year, which is the best time to visit. The climate is mild during this period, neither too hot nor too humid, making it suitable for participating in various outdoor celebration activities. At the same time, during the festival, Mojiang holds a variety of colorful folk activities, allowing tourists to fully experience the unique cultural atmosphere.

Recommended Attractions

Tropic of Cancer Marker Garden

This is the symbolic attraction of Mojiang, integrating astronomy, geography, botany and popular science knowledge with garden art, ethnic culture and sightseeing tourism. Here, you can personally experience the unique charm of the Tropic of Cancer and enjoy the wonderful feeling of “standing with one foot in both the northern and southern hemispheres”. The garden has facilities such as a sundial and an astronomical museum to help visitors learn about astronomical knowledge. The ticket price is 40 yuan per person before 15:00 on the same day; the sightseeing bus ticket is 20 yuan per person before 15:00 on the same day. Some groups can enjoy free admission policies, such as children under 6 years old (including 6 years old) or with a height of 1.2 meters (including 1.2 meters) or less; people over 70 years old or with a “Retirement Certificate”.

Twin Culture Garden

The garden is themed around twin culture and Hani culture, showcasing the unique twin phenomenon in Mojiang and its cultural connotations. There is a Twin Well in the garden. It is said that drinking the well water can increase the chances of having twins, which attracts many tourists to check in. There is also a twin culture exhibition, introducing stories of twins from all over the world and the characteristics of twins in Mojiang.

Hexi Village

The village is famous for its mysterious Twin Well. It retains the original Hani ethnic style. Tourists can deeply experience the traditional way of life of the Hani people, appreciate the ancient local architecture and feel the strong ethnic atmosphere.

Transportation

External Transportation

By Train: You can first arrive in Kunming and then take a train to Mojiang. The train journey from Kunming to Mojiang takes about 4 – 5 hours. The specific train schedule and time can be checked through the official website of 12306 or other ticket – selling platforms.
By Long – Distance Bus: Kunming South Bus Station has long – distance buses to Mojiang, with a journey of about 4 – 5 hours. There are many bus schedules, and you can book tickets in advance on the bus station’s official website or a third – party ticket – booking platform.

Internal Transportation

By Taxi: There are many taxis in Mojiang County, making travel convenient. The starting fare is generally between 5 – 8 yuan, and the price is calculated according to the distance of the trip.
By Public Transport: There are bus routes in the county that can reach the main attractions. However, the intervals between buses may be longer. It is recommended to check the routes and departure times before traveling.

Cuisine

Nimi Dry Food

This is a unique delicacy of Mojiang, which can be boiled or served cold. The cold – mixed Nimi dry food is a combination of sour, sweet and spicy flavors, which can instantly stimulate your taste buds and leave a lasting aftertaste.

Zimi Products

Mojang is known as the “Hometown of Chinese Zimi”. Zimi is rich in nutrition and can be made into various delicacies such as Zimi cakes, Zimi porridge and Zimi Sealed – jar Wine. Zimi cakes have a soft and glutinous texture with a unique rice fragrance; Zimi porridge is sweet and nutritious; Zimi Sealed – jar Wine has a rich aroma and a mellow and smooth taste.

Hani Fermented Soybeans

This is a traditional fermented soybean product of the Hani ethnic group, with a rich flavor. It can be eaten directly or used as a seasoning to cook other dishes, adding a unique flavor to the dishes.

Grilled Tilapia

The tilapia in Mojiang has tender meat. After being grilled, it has a golden and crispy skin and juicy inside. When served with a special dipping sauce, the taste is truly wonderful.

Shopping

Zimi Products

You can buy Zimi from Mojiang, which is suitable for personal consumption or as a gift for friends and relatives. In addition, there are also various pastries and fruit preserves made from Zimi, which are convenient to carry.

Hani Ethnic Handicrafts

The handicrafts of the Hani ethnic group, such as embroidery, bamboo weaving and wood carving, are exquisitely crafted and uniquely shaped, with strong ethnic characteristics. The embroidery works have bright colors and exquisite patterns; the bamboo – woven products are delicate and practical; the wood carvings show the craftsmen’s superb skills. These handicrafts are all very meaningful souvenirs.

Twin – Themed Souvenirs

In Mojiang, you can buy many twin – themed souvenirs, such as dolls, key chains and postcards, which are printed with cute twin images and are very valuable as souvenirs.

Accommodation

Hotels in Mojiang County

There are various hotels in the county town for you to choose from, ranging from budget hotels to high – end hotels. The prices vary according to the hotel class and season. Generally, the price of a budget hotel is about 100 – 200 yuan per night, the price of a mid – range hotel is about 200 – 400 yuan, and the price of a high – end hotel is more than 400 yuan. The hotels are conveniently located, with complete supporting facilities around, making travel and dining very convenient.

Twin Town Inns

Twin Town is a characteristic area of Mojiang. The inns here are decorated with a twin – themed culture, creating a unique atmosphere. The prices of the inns are relatively affordable, with a price of about 150 – 300 yuan per night, allowing tourists to better integrate

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