Yunnan has the greatest number of ethnic groups in China, with officially 25 ethnic minorities including Bai, Yi, Dai, Naxi, Hani, Miao, Tibetan, Hui, and Yao. Yunnan offers unique and exciting experiences of ethnic customs, with more than 400 ethnic festivals celebrated throughout the year.
Many ethnic minorities maintain their unique folk traditions and customs that are full of myths, singing, dances, paintings, and ancient music. We have listed the following ethnic festivals as worth attending while visiting Yunnan.
If you are already planning to visit Yunnan, see our Festival Tours, or we could customize a unique festival tour for you.
1) The Third Month Fair of the Bai Ethnic Group (三月街)
Date: April/May (days 15 to 21 of the third lunar month)
Location: Dali
Festival: Also known as the Guanyin Fair, the Third Month Fair is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Bai ethnic people in Dali in western Yunnan Province. During the March Fair, the streets of Dali Ancient Town are packed with temporally stalls selling a mind-boggling variety of items and ethnic minority souvenirs.
Recommended tour: 6-Day Yunnan Ethnic Minorities Tour
2) The Torch Festival (火把节)
Date: July/August (days 24 to 26 of the sixth lunar month)
Location: Lijiang and other places with the Yi, Naxi, or Bai minorities
Festival: The Torch Festival is a traditional festival among the Yi, Naxi, and Bai minority groups. It is also known as the Oriental Carnival. Of the Torch Festival celebrations, the most famous one is the Lijiang Torch Festival. According to the ancient rule of the Naxi people, the Torch Festival should last for 3 days, and every family should light a big torch in front of their doors for the 3 days.
Recommended Tour: 3-Day Essence of Ancient Lijiang Tour
Torch Festival
3) The Water Splashing Festival (泼水节)
Date: April 13 to 15
Location: Xishuangbanna
Festival: The Water Splashing Festival is the most important festival observed by the Dai people of Xishuangbanna Prefecture in southern Yunnan. It's similar to neighboring Thailand's Songkran Festival (the Dai and Thai have many similarities, not least in name), and represents their Spring Festival or New Year. It involves splashing people and Buddha statuettes with water as a blessing amongst other joyful festivities — feasting, lantern floating… — that last three days.
Recommended tour: 6-Day Xishuangbanna and Pu'er Tour
4) The Sword Pole Festival (傈僳刀杆节)
Date: Usually in March (8th of the second lunar month)
Location: Nujiang
Festival: The Sword Pole Festival, also called Dao Gan Festival (Dao Gan is Chinese for 'Sword Pole'), is celebrated by Lisu people in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture and the Yunnan Three Parallel Rivers area. During the festival, performances like "entering the fire-sea" and "ascending the sword mountain" are enacted, when you can see local people walk barefoot over burning coals and climb up ladders made of knives barefoot and barehanded.
Recommended tour: 8-Day Yunnan Tour of the Nu River and Tengchong
Lisu People
5) The Horse Race Festival (赛马节)
Date: May/June (5th of the fifth lunar month)
Location: Shangri-La
Festival: The Horse Race Festival, falling on the same date as the Dragon Boat Festival, is the grandest gathering of Tibetans in Yunnan and usually lasts for about 3 days. During the celebrations, traditional equestrian performances and competitions like horse racing, wrestling, tugs-of-war, and ox-drawn bars will be held.
Recommended tour: 8-Day Yunnan Tour of the Nu River and Tengchong
Horse Race Festival
6) The Naxi Sanduo Festival (纳西族三朵节)
Date: Usually in March (8th of the second lunar month)
Location: Lijiang
Festival: The Sanduo Festival is a traditional festival of the Naxi ethnic group. During the festival the Naxi ethnic people gather around Sanduo Temple (also known as Beiyue Temple) in Baisha Village near Lijiang Old Town for a grand memorial and sacrifice ceremony.
Recommended tour: 1-Day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Hiking Tour
Naxi People7) Worship Gathering in the Three Temples (白族绕三灵)
Date: May/June (23rd to 25th day of the fourth lunar month)
Location: Dali
Festival: Worship Gathering in the Three Temples is also called Guanshanglan, a Mandarin transliteration of the Bai language. It is a carnival for the Bai people in Dali to entertain themselves during the farming slack season. It is also an occasion to welcome the coming of immortals from heaven. This event dates back to ancient times and was originally a religious ceremony. The three temples involved are Chongsheng Temple, Shengyuan Temple, and Jinkui Temple.
Recommended tour: 8-Day Beauty of Yunnan Tour
Worship among Bai People
Other Recommended Festivals in Yunnan
- Gedong Festival (January), Shangri-La
- Gatangpa Festival (early January), Xishuangbanna
- Mosuo Zhuanshan Festival (end of July) in the Lugu Lake area, near Lijiang
- Hani Month 10 New Year (around November), Yuanyang
- Kuoshi Festival of the Lisu (December), Lijiang
More on Chinese Festivals and Events>>>
Experience Yunnan Festivals with China Highlights
If you are interested in the above ethnic minority festivals, we can help you make the most of your Yunnan festival experience. See our Yunnan tours below for inspiration:
- 6-Day Yunnan Ethnic Minorities Tour — experience ethnic minorities' unique customs
- 6-Day Shangri-La, Deqin, and Tacheng Adventure Tour
- 8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Exploration Tour
See more Yunnan tours, which cover the highlights of Yunnan and also include exclusive programs to give you a unique experience. Contact our travel experts to tailor-make a tour.