Two best men accompanying the groom with umbrellas to meet the bride is one of the many special and interesting customs that have been preserved till now in marriage ceremonies of the Achang ethnic group.
Residence of the Achang Ethnic GroupOn the wedding day, the groom leads a group of kindred and some other people to the bride’s home to meet her. When they get into her courtyard, sisters of the bride, who have waited for a long time, would splash water towards the groom to make fun of him or to test him. The well-prepared ‘guards”-the two best men-would open their umbrellas to shield the groom on both sides from the splashing water. The three would then proceed while hiding themselves from the water. Sometimes, they intentionally evoke them to splash more water. After this, if the groom is wetted, the winning girls would guffaw and teasing the young men; if the groom and his partners move with agility and the groom remains largely dry, they will also wink and smile at them to show that they have won. This dramatic scene lasts not very long, yet it produces much joy and merriness.
About this custom, Achangs have a byword: “Water had once brought in a misfortune; now let the umbrellas save the groom.” It is said that this derives from a love tragedy that is widely related among the folk people. A young girl married with her lover secretly to resist an arranged marriage. Seeing no hope of breaking them up, her utterly discomfited brothers poured cold water towards the groom on the wedding day when he came to meet the bride. The cold water killed the groom. Despaired of life, the girl committed suicide by hanging. In order to remember this tragedy as a lesson and also in memory of the brave girl, people added this custom to wedding ceremonies thereafter. However, the point is that there is not any hostility or enmity in it now-it has become a mere ritual to create an atmosphere of happiness to the joyous occasion.
Another custom of their wedding ceremonies is even more joyful and interesting. At the wedding feast, the sisters of the bride will seize every opportunity to black the groom’s face with pan soot. Then, they take two long bamboos with leaves and give them to the groom. The groom will have to use them as chopsticks to hold a piece of meat. The long and clumsy bamboos are hard to control; what is worse is that someone always touches the tops of them from behind, which makes the task even more difficult. Seeing the groom so abashed, people around would then make roars of hearty laughter.
The Stone Forest (Shilin) is located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, approximately 90 kilometers (56 miles) southeast of Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province, China. It is renowned for its unique limestone formations that create a stunning landscape resembling a forest made of stone. The area is accessible by car or public transportation from Kunming.
According to the Deputy Magistrate of the Stone Forest Yang Yan, the 2012 Stone Forest International Torch Carnival Festival will be held on August 6thlasting for 7 days. On the carnival, the kickboxing and the all-star concert will be the highlights of the festival. The theme of the 2012 Stone Forest Int’l Torch Carnival Festival is to sing in the Stone Forest and to rejoice with wild excitement. There will present the bullfighting, wrestling, horse racing, singing, dancing and other traditional activities to demonstrate the universal Fire Culture of Yi nationalities.
The Torch Festival of Yi nationality 彝族火把节 is said to be the Oriental Carnival, as a grand old Yi annual festival. It is not only China’s first intangible cultural heritage, but also the one of the top ten traditional festivals in China. In order to promote the Stone Forest Int’l Torch Festival as well as the cultural industry brand of Ashima, the festival in 2012 has carried out large-scale investment to motivate local tourism and cultural industries improvement by the stage of ethnic culture.
The Torch Festival of the Yi Ethnic Minority is one of the most vibrant and culturally rich celebrations in Yunnan Province, particularly in the Stone Forest area near Kunming. This traditional festival is a time of great joy, community bonding, and the preservation of cultural heritage among the Yi people, as well as other ethnic minorities in the region.
The Stone Forest, with its dramatic limestone formations and deep cultural significance, serves as an extraordinary backdrop for the Torch Festival. The area’s natural beauty enhances the festival’s atmosphere, attracting both locals and visitors to join in the festivities.
The Torch Festival is a deeply significant event for the Yi people, embodying their traditions, beliefs, and community values. Celebrating this festival in the Stone Forest adds a unique dimension to the experience, blending natural wonder with cultural heritage. It is a time when the Yi people come together to celebrate their identity and share their rich cultural traditions with the world.
The Stone Forest, located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, China, is a renowned natural wonder, known for its limestone formations resembling a vast forest of stone pillars. Here’s a guide to help you explore the Stone Forest:
Chinese Name:滇金丝猴专家别苑
English Name:Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey Expert Hotel, Tacheng
Add:located in Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey National Park
Tele:18088243690
Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey Expert Hotel in Tacheng Town is located in Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey National Park, 8 kilometers from 303 highway, at the altitude of 2600m. The hotel is equipped with 7 villas and 14 standard rooms with Tv and free Wifi. There are two independent Conference Rooms and a dining room in the hall. It’s surrounded by mountains and trees with fresh air and refreshing sight. It’s a good option for accommodation in Tacheng Town.
Chinese Name:傣族开门节/出夏节/出洼
English Name: Kaimen (Opening Door ) Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority
Open Door Festival, also known as “Out of the Lowlands Festival” or “Lowlands Festival,” is a traditional holiday celebrated by the Dai,布朗族, Deang, and Va ethnic groups in China who believe in Southern Transmission of Upper Buddhism. The festival is held on the 15th day of the 12th month of the Dai calendar (approximately in mid-September). The Open Door Festival symbolizes the end of the three-month rainy season and indicates the lifting of restrictions on marriage between men and women, starting from the closure festival. From this day on, young men and women can start dating or hold weddings. During the festival, young people wear formal clothes to go to the temple to worship the Buddha, offering food, flowers, candles, and coins. After the sacrifice is over, a grand cultural assembly is held to celebrate the end of the three-month fasting period. The main activities include lighting firecrackers and raising lanterns, singing and dancing. Young people also light up various bird, animal, fish, and insect-shaped lanterns and tour the village. At this time, the rice harvest has just ended, so it is also a festival to celebrate the harvest.
The last day of the Lowlands Festival, on the 15th day of the 12th month of the Dai calendar (approximately in mid-October), marks the beginning of the Open Door Festival (also known as “Out of the Lowlands”). This indicates that the three-month fasting period since the closure festival has ended. On this day, both men and women of all ages dress up to go to the temple to worship the Buddha and offer food, flowers, candles, and coins to the Buddha. The elderly often stay in the temple during this time, living a religious life similar to that of the monks. The festival lasts for three days, during which various artistic activities are held. The Buddhist monks are free to come and go, and laypeople can build houses and get married, making the place particularly lively. From a formal point of view, the Open Door Festival and the Lowlands Festival are religious holidays, but in reality they are closely related to production activities. The three-month period of the Lowlands Festival is a busy farming season, allowing people, especially young men and women, to rest and engage in agricultural work. When the Open Door Festival arrives, the harvest has been completed, and people rest and celebrate the harvest, engaging in non-productive construction and social activities. It is necessary to have these activities during the three-day festival period.
Kaimen Festival of Achang Ethnic Minority
阿昌族开门节:
Achang Opening Festival:
It is held on the 15th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar every year, meaning the release of the Buddha from the temple. The festival lasts for three days. At this time, the harvest is over and the agricultural leisure period begins, so the ban on entering the lowlands festival is cancelled, and young people can enjoy themselves freely. On the 15th day, all the unmarried young men in the village carry flower paper and beat elephant-foot drums to parade in the village, while the elderly people go to the Buddhist temple to burn incense and burn the offerings that were placed behind the Buddhist seat in the temple when they entered the lowlands. On the 16th day, the Buddha’s release from the lowlands ceremony is held, and all unmarried girls must enter the Buddhist temple to worship the Buddha. On the 17th day, young men and women from all villages gather to listen to the Buddha’s lectures on scriptures in their own villages. Then, people sing and dance, congratulate each other, and young men and women can start talking and making love again from this day on, forming marriage partnerships.
Kaimen Festival of Deang Ethnic Minority德昂族开门节
The Door Opening Festival of the De’ang Ethnic Group is held on the last day of the annual Door Opening Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the 12th month of the Bengali calendar, and lasts for 3 days. On the 15th day, young men carry flowers and beat elephant-foot drums as they parade around the village, while the elderly go to the Buddhist temple to burn incense and respect the Buddha. On this day, the Festival of Entering the Lowlands is also burned on the east side of the Buddha statue to symbolize the Buddha’s emergence from the lowlands. On the 16th day, a ceremony is held for the Buddha’s emergence from the lowlands, and unmarried young women go to the Buddhist temple to thank the Buddha for the grace of the lifting of the ban. On the 16th day, a celebration and a religious ceremony are held. In the morning, young men and women gather to listen to the Buddha’s scripture and preaching. Then they dance and sing happily, congratulating each other. Since the three-month ban during the Entering the Lowlands Festival has been lifted, young men and women will use the festival activities to court and express their love. As the mid-December of the Bengali calendar marks the end of the agricultural season and the harvest of cotton, the festival not only has religious significance, but also celebrates the harvest.
February 19th in lunar calender is the birthday of Guanyin, one of the Four Great Bodhisattva(观世音菩萨). Believers of Buddhism in Luxi(泸西in Chinese) will gather together in Alu Ancient Cave(阿庐古洞in Chinese) and hold the grand Guanyin Temple Fair on this day. It is seen as the most solemn Buddhist ceremony in Luxi as it consists several activities including chanting Buddhism scriptures and praying for happiness and health by burning the incense and worshiping Guanyin and other Buddhas, releasing captive animals.
Two abbots led the absiheca ceremony in the Absiheca Fair(甘露灌顶法会), and monks were spraying the water over pilgrims to pray for fortune. At 10:08, the blessed moment, two abbots held the consecration ceremony for the furnace curved with the inscription “The peculiar scene in the cave is of halos and fortune”(“祥光瑞气”) Later, monks kneed down and burnt the incense in front of the furnace.
Karma” is a significant definition in the Buddhism. It is surprising that when it comes to 14:08 when people were chanting the scriptures, Venerable Zhenyuan(贞圆大师in Chinese)at the age of 110 were leading monks into the cave, the sky became clear almost immediately. A beam of halo went through the crevice on the cave and presented an auspicious scene. Monks and pilgrims put their palms together and chanting the “Amitabha”, made it more sacred. As time went by, the holy light was gradually fading away, and ultimately disappeared when it reached ampulla in front of Guanyin at 14:28. All participating monks and pilgrims were astonished at the mystery.
Diqing Shangri-La Airport (IATA code: DIG, ICAO code: ZPDQ) is an civilian airport serving Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. It was finished construction at 1999 and was put into service. The airport covers an area of 2543 acres. The grade of the flight zone is 4D and the runway is 3600 meters long, Tarmac covers an area of 23,400 square meters. There are 4 aircraft stands. And the terminal area is of 3,073 square meters. There are flights connecting Kunming, Chongqing, Lhasa, Guangzhou, Xishuangbanna, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guiyang, etc. It was once rewarded the title of “civilized unit” in Yunnan province.
Shangri-La Airport covers an area of 225 hectares at the plateau region with beautiful natural scenery. The altitude is 3280.83 meters. Located in the southwest suburb of Shangri-La County, Diqing Shangri-La Airport is 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles) from the county. It is connected with the city by 214 National Highway and Shangri-La Kangba Main Road.
Diqing airport was built in 1997 and opened to the public on April 30, 1999.
On June 25, 2007, the foundation-laying ceremony was held for the expansion project of Diqing Shangri-la Airport. The expansion will end the history of Shangri-la airport being unable to take off and land passenger aircraft all day long.
At present, the third expansion project is under preparation.
The airport is equipped with Two inquiry desks, Nursing Room, ATM, Medical Care, Free WIFI, etc. The inquiry desks are located on the first and second floors of T2 and the hotline is +86 0887-8229916 or +86 0887-8231553. The Nursing Room is located at the east side of second floor in T2 and ATM of Agricultural Bank of China at T2. Medical Care is located at the west side of the first floor in T2 and the hotline is +86 0887-8231323 or +86 0887-8234567. The hotline of Lost and Found is +86 0887-8229916 or +86 0887-8231322.
No shuttle bus is provided at this airport.
There are 42 flights on 10 different routes from Shangri-La Diqing Airport, connecting DIG to 10 different cities in 1 different countries. The most popular routes connect Shangri-La to Kunming, Lhasa, Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi’an. There are flights from Kunming to Shangri-la everyday and takes only 55 mins.Boarding procedures should be completed 90 minutes prior to flight departure time. Check-in counters are closed 30 minutes before flight departure. The specific requirements should follow the passenger guides shown on air tickets.
Airlines include China Eastern Yunnan Airlines (MU), Sichuan Airlines (3U), Lucky Air (8L), China Southern Airlines (CZ), Chongqing Airlines (OQ).
Due to no shuttle buses serving in the Diqing airport, tourists needs to take a taxi to travel between the airport and Shangrila. Usually, it costs about CNY 30 per person for 20-minutes ride from the airport to Shangri-La City. You can also take the taxi to Shangrila Bus Station to take the coach to where you want to. Renting a car to travel around is a better choice and Yunnan Exploration Travel can provide car-rental service, please contact us. Email: contact@YunnanExploration.com; Tel: +86-871-63511469.
As the deepest gorge in the world, the scenery of Tiger Leaping Gorge is spectacular. Foreign backpackers started hiking in the area in the 1980s and now Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour has been one of the most famous hiking tour all around the world. From the top of Tiger Leaping Gorge, you can look down the steeply angled (70-90 degrees) mountain sides to the rushing Jinsha River with its 18 frothing rapids more than 200 meters below.
Tiger Leaping Gorge is renowned as one of China’s premier hiking destinations, offering a perfect blend of adventure, unique Naxi culture, and breathtaking gorge scenery. Located between Lijiang (about a 2-hour drive) and Shangri-La (approximately a 3-hour drive) in Yunnan Province, this stunning area attracts trekkers and nature lovers alike.
Spanning approximately 22 km (14 miles), Tiger Leaping Gorge features a variety of hiking routes to accommodate different skill levels. Whether you’re looking for a half-day trek, a full-day adventure, or a two-day excursion, you’ll find options that suit your preferences.
The hiking season in Tiger Leaping Gorge is generally suitable for most of the year, although it is advisable to avoid the rainy season from June to September due to the risk of landslides. Plan your visit during the drier months to ensure a safe and enjoyable hiking experience.
Tiger Leaping Gorge consists of three parts: the Upper Gorge, Middle Gorge, and Lower Gorge. The Upper and Middle Gorges are particularly popular for hiking. The Upper Gorge, mainly from Qiaotou to Tina’s Guesthouse, is generally easier than the Middle Gorge.
The Tiger Leaping Gorge hike is suitable for energetic and adventurous hikers with a good fitness level. The longer and steeper sections are not recommended for children under 10 years old or those lacking hiking experience.
While hiking the gorge isn’t overly strenuous, the initial ascent along the 28 Bends can be challenging. This section features a series of switchbacks that steeply wind upward, requiring significant use of hamstrings and calf muscles for about an hour.
The presence of inns and hotels along the route allows for a comfortable trek, enabling hikers to take their time and enjoy accommodations. However, attempting to complete the entire hike too quickly can be strenuous.
The trails are well-marked and easy to follow, but some sections narrow significantly, requiring careful navigation next to cliff faces. The paths are generally safe, except during the rainy season (June to September), when rocks become slippery and the trail muddy. Fresh rockslides can also present challenges.
Medical facilities in the immediate area are limited, and English-speaking staff may not be available even in Lijiang. Therefore, having a local English-speaking guide is advisable to enhance your experience and provide support in case of emergencies.
Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Map The gorge boasts features of an ideal hiking experience: adventurous routes, stunning views, diverse flora and fauna, captivating geological features like waterfalls, and a sense of isolation.
Although it is one of China’s popular trails, it remains uncrowded. Most hikers are foreigners, particularly on the high path above the river, with few Chinese tourists on the trail. Hikers might encounter only one group every hour.
1. Popular 2-Day Trek: High Trail Hike
2. Shorter 1-Day Trek
3. Half-Day Hike
Whether you choose a longer trek or a shorter hike, Tiger Leaping Gorge promises an unforgettable experience filled with stunning natural beauty and cultural encounters.
Tiger Leaping Gorge offers an array of features that make it one of the best hiking destinations, including adventurous routes, stunning views, diverse flora and fauna, appealing geological formations like waterfalls, and a sense of isolation.
Despite being a popular trail in China, Tiger Leaping Gorge is not overcrowded. Most hikers on the high path above the river are foreigners, with few Chinese tourists venturing onto this trail. It’s not unusual to encounter only one group of hikers every hour.
Whether you choose a multi-day trek or a shorter hike, Tiger Leaping Gorge promises unforgettable scenery and adventure!
This hike follows one of the most popular yet challenging routes in Tiger Leaping Gorge. The highlight is the steep ascent known as the 28 Bends, where you’ll zigzag your way up over 500 meters (1,650+ feet) of elevation. Be prepared for a breathless climb, but once you conquer it, the remaining trail is mostly level or downhill, rewarding you with stunning scenery.
In peak season (October), locals may offer horse rides to the top of the 28 Bends.
Itinerary:
Where to Eat:
Where to Stay: The owners of recommended guesthouses speak basic English and provide good service. Other family-run guesthouses are available if language is not a barrier. It’s wise to book in advance, as private rooms are limited.
Itinerary:
Where to Eat:
Where to Stay:
If you prefer a shorter experience, the one-day High Trail hike allows you to enjoy the stunning scenery of Tiger Leaping Gorge while skipping the toughest sections. You’ll encounter breathtaking views of waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, and the rushing river, making for an exhilarating adventure.
Itinerary:
Where to Eat:
This one-day hike offers a thrilling and picturesque experience of Tiger Leaping Gorge, perfect for those short on time but still eager to explore the beauty of this natural wonder.
1. 14 Km Point to Halfway Hostel in Bendiwan Village
Begin your hike at the 14 Km Point. The trail ascends gradually, leading you through stunning landscapes with views of snow-capped mountains and the gorge below. After about 2 hours of hiking, you’ll reach the Halfway Hostel in Bendiwan Village, a perfect spot to take a break and soak in the panoramic views.
2. Lunch at Bendiwan Village
Enjoy a leisurely lunch at Bendiwan Village, either at the Halfway Hostel or another local spot. The rooftop terrace at Halfway Hostel offers a great place to relax while admiring the surrounding peaks.
3. Bendiwan Village to Guanyin Temple and Guanyin Waterfall
After lunch, continue your hike toward Guanyin Temple and Guanyin Waterfall. The trail takes you through lush bamboo forests and serene landscapes. The temple and waterfall are both peaceful spots where you can pause to appreciate the natural beauty and tranquility.
4. Bamboo Forest to Tina’s Hostel
From the waterfall, descend through a picturesque bamboo forest as you make your way to Tina’s Hostel, located in the middle of the gorge. This section of the hike offers diverse scenery and a chance to immerse yourself in the natural environment.
5. End at Tina’s Hostel
Your hike concludes at Tina’s Hostel, where you can rest and enjoy the views before meeting your driver for the return transfer. From here, you’ll be driven back to either Lijiang or Shangri-La, depending on your preference.
Logistics:
This half-day hike is ideal for those looking to experience the highlights of Tiger Leaping Gorge in a short, manageable timeframe while still enjoying its breathtaking landscapes and cultural sites.
For those seeking an adrenaline-pumping experience, the Middle Gorge Hike in Tiger Leaping Gorge is the ultimate challenge. With its narrow, steep trails, breathtaking views, and the famous Sky Ladder, this hike promises a thrilling adventure for the brave-hearted.
1. Start from Tina’s Guesthouse
Begin your hike from Tina’s Guesthouse, where you can grab a quick snack or drink before heading out. Make sure you’re well-prepared, as the trails in the Middle Gorge are steep and require good balance and stamina.
2. Teacher Zhang’s Trail
Descend along Teacher Zhang’s Trail, a narrow path cut into the cliffside. This trail offers stunning views of the gorge as you make your way down to the bottom. The descent takes about an hour, and you’ll need to use your hands to steady yourself on the steep sections.
3. Starry Sky Reef and Tiger Leaping Rock
Once at the bottom, you’ll reach the narrowest part of the gorge, marked by the dangerous ‘Starry Sky Reef.’ Here, you have the option to step out onto Tiger Leaping Rock via a hanging wooden suspension bridge for a small fee (CN¥10 or US$1.5). It’s a perfect spot for cool pictures standing amidst the roaring rapids.
4. Sky Ladder
After exploring the bottom of the gorge, head toward the Sky Ladder, the most challenging part of the hike. The Sky Ladder is a vertical climb that takes about an hour to complete. The ladder is rough and almost vertical, offering a vertigo-inducing view as you climb. The thrill of ascending the Sky Ladder makes it a favorite for adventurous hikers.
5. Return to Tina’s Guesthouse
Once you’ve conquered the Sky Ladder, you can either take a different trail back to Tina’s Guesthouse or return via the same route. The hike back offers more incredible views and a sense of accomplishment after completing the challenging trails.
Logistics:
This Middle Gorge Hike is perfect for those looking to push their limits and experience the raw beauty and power of Tiger Leaping Gorge up close.
Usually it takes about 7 to 8 hours to finish the hiking of upper section of Tiger Leaping Gorge. Most travelers will choose to do it in two days, for enjoying the scenery while doing hiking. Below are recommended hiking routes.
Please read more about Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tours.
Usually it takes about 1.5-2 hours. From Qiaotou, walk along the main road about 1km to the school. Take the narrow path beside school basketball courts, you will see a sign of High Trail on your left. Walk through two villages and then the path narrows after the village, rises gradually. Turns left into the Gorge. You can see the site of the Upper Tiger Leaping Stone several hundred meters down from the trail. Next village you will meet is Nuoyu village and you’ll get to Naxi Family Guesthouse.
This part will take about 2.5-3 hours. You will meet the most difficult part of trail – the 28 Bends which comes after Naxi Family Guesthouse. On the summit of the 28 bends, you’ll be rewarded by a magnificent panorama.
Continue hiking about 30-1 hour, you’ll reach Tea-horse Trade Guesthouse.
Walk on a flat path for 1.5 hours. You will enjoy the most beautiful part of High Trail. 10 minutes before Half Way, the narrow trail meets a tractor road, keep the same direction as the contrary direction brings you down to the 14 km point on the Low Road.
Two hours are needed for finishing this part. Several beautiful cascades and falls appear on the trail after Half Way. The most beautiful fall is called Quanyin Fall. Soon the Middle Gorge can be seen together with switchbacks of Low Road. There is a small climb leading you to a ridge at 2480m. Then the trail descends gradually to Tina’s Guesthouse. A shortcut to Zhang’s Guesthouse is marked by a sign on the trail. (See Middle Tiger Leaping Stone).
Difficulty: Medium. Except the part from Naxi Family to the summit of 28 bends which is the toughest.
Food/Water: Local guesthouse provides food and water.
Route Mark: Red, yellow, black arrows marked by different guesthouses are found at each crossroad
When to Go: Spring, Autumn, Winter
Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge Transportation
How to Travel to Tiger Leaping Gorge from Kunming
How to Get to Tiger Leaping Gorge from Shangrila
Where to Stay in Tiger Leaping Gorge
Weather in Tiger Leaping Gorge: The Best Season to Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge
The Achang people primarily adhere to Hinayana, a branch of Buddhism, and celebrate numerous festivals, most of which are connected to their Buddhist traditions. Some notable festivals include the Water-splashing Festival, New Year (Spring Festival), Jinwa (Buddha entering a temple), Chuwa (Buddha exiting the temple), Torch Festival, Change Yellow Clothes, Watering Flowers Festival, and Huijie Festival (Fair Street Festival).
The Huijie Festival is a traditional celebration held in the Husa and Lasa areas. Historically, it took place in mid-September according to the Chinese Lunar calendar and lasted about fifteen days. However, it has since been moved to the three days surrounding National Day. One of the festival’s most exciting and significant events is the performance featuring the green dragon and white elephant, which are symbols of good luck and happiness for the Achang people.
Festival Activities:
Before the Huijie Festival, the green dragon and white elephant are crafted. At dawn, young men don Husa long swords and beat elephant-foot drums, while young women dress in beautiful traditional attire. The green dragon and white elephant then make their grand entrance, accompanied by drumbeats and various musical instruments.
When they arrive at the celebration square, the elder presiding over the festival declares the beginning of the Huijie Festival. Instantly, drums, Mang Luos (gongs), and Bos (percussion instruments) erupt into joyous music. The green dragon and white elephant begin to dance: the dragon shakes its head and tail or opens its mouth in a cheerful manner, while the white elephant swings its long snout, walks in different directions, kneels, or stands on its hind legs. Their amusing movements elicit laughter and cheers from the audience.
As the dragon and elephant perform, young men and women join in, dancing around them. Their movements create a vibrant and lively atmosphere, transforming the festival square into a sea of joy and celebration.
You may wonder how the green dragon and white elephant are capable of such varied movements. They are constructed with a wooden frame, covered in paper, and adorned with cloth for the dragon’s head and tail and the elephant’s snout. Inside, there are performers who operate the dragon and elephant. Some individuals carry the structures, while others manipulate the dragon’s head and tail and the elephant’s snout, enabling the green dragon to raise its head, open or close its mouth, and swing its tail, while the white elephant can swing its snout in delight.
The inaugural Wumuchun Tea Culture Festival(华坪县永兴乡乌木春茶文化节) took place in Yongxing Township, Huaping County, under the theme “Taste the Tea from the Clouds and Mist, Visit the Wumuchun River in Spring, and Admire the Beautiful Countryside Scenery.” The festival was inaugurated in the natural village of Sangushui.
During the opening ceremony, attendees enjoyed a range of exciting cultural performances and participated in interactive quiz sessions with prizes. The festival featured various activities, including the display of agricultural specialty products, the awarding of expert workstations, ancient tree tea auctions, tea-picking competitions, tea tastings, signing ceremonies, tea ordering sessions, and guided tours of tea gardens.
Cultural programs highlighted tea culture through unique performances such as lantern dances, tea ceremony demonstrations, and tea product fashion shows. The festival also invited the founder of tea dance to perform the “Rhythm of Tea Dance,” alongside a captivating long teapot juggling act.
Wang Ping, president of the Huaping County Calligraphy and Painting Association, remarked, “Tea is the national drink, and calligraphy and painting are national treasures; the combination of the two complements each other.” He explained that the exhibited calligraphy and painting works primarily focus on tea culture and the construction of beautiful rural areas, emphasizing the festival’s distinctive theme of the “fragrance of tea and ink.”
In Sangushui Village, a dedicated food and beverage area was set up, offering famous local dishes such as Yongxing cold noodles, fire-roasted cakes, and beef and lamb soup pots.
Two best men accompanying the groom with umbrellas to meet the bride is one of the many special and interesting customs that have been preserved till now in marriage...
The Stone Forest (Shilin) is located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, approximately 90 kilometers (56 miles) southeast of Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province, China. It is renowned...
According to the Deputy Magistrate of the Stone Forest Yang Yan, the 2012 Stone Forest International Torch Carnival Festival will be held on August 6thlasting for 7 days. On...
The Stone Forest, located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, China, is a renowned natural wonder, known for its limestone formations resembling a vast forest of stone pillars....
Kunming Shilin Yinruilin International Hotel is a five-star standard professional conference and resort hotel. Below is detailed information about the hotel: Hotel Facilities and Services Rooms: The hotel covers...
Chinese Name:滇金丝猴专家别苑 English Name:Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey Expert Hotel, Tacheng Add:located in Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey National Park Tele:18088243690 Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey Expert Hotel in Tacheng Town is located in Yunnan Snub-nosed M ...
Chinese Name:傣族开门节/出夏节/出洼 English Name: Kaimen (Opening Door ) Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority Open Door Festival, also known as “Out of the Lowlands Festival” or “Lowlands Festival,” is a...
February 19th in lunar calender is the birthday of Guanyin, one of the Four Great Bodhisattva(观世音菩萨). Believers of Buddhism in Luxi(泸西in Chinese) will gather together in Alu Ancient Cave(阿庐古洞in...
Brief Introduction Diqing Shangri-La Airport (IATA code: DIG, ICAO code: ZPDQ) is an civilian airport serving Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. It was finished construction at 1999 and was put in...
As the deepest gorge in the world, the scenery of Tiger Leaping Gorge is spectacular. Foreign backpackers started hiking in the area in the 1980s and now Tiger Leaping...
The Achang people primarily adhere to Hinayana, a branch of Buddhism, and celebrate numerous festivals, most of which are connected to their Buddhist traditions. Some notable festivals include the...
The inaugural Wumuchun Tea Culture Festival(华坪县永兴乡乌木春茶文化节) took place in Yongxing Township, Huaping County, under the theme “Taste the Tea from the Clouds and Mist, Visit the Wumuchun River in...
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