It comprises peoples’ ways of living in their ethnic communities, with their environment, from their agriculture, hunting and fishing. It refers to the norms on how to treat the living and the dead, how to celebrate and to mourn, how to dress and what to eat, and many more aspects of daily life.

These pages give a little insight into the cultural communities of Xishuangbanna, where ethnic cultures diversify into 14 different cultures, languages, traditional costumes and customs, and ways of living with nature which are markedly different from modern Chinese culture.

The Six famous tea mountains region (Chinese: 六大茶山; pinyin: Liù Dà Chá Shān) located in the prefecture produce some of the most highly regarded Pu-erh tea in the 20th century.

Xishuangbanna is rich in nature, historical and cultural resources, noted for its folklore, rain forests, rare plants and wildlife. Its major tourist attractions include Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden, Manfeilong Pagodas (Tanuozhuanglong), Jingzhen Pavilion, Wild Elephant Gully, Dai people’s village at Ganlanba. The Manchunman Buddhist Temple, which has a history of more than 1400 years, is also a very popular tourist attraction. The complex is made up of four parts, the main hall, the sutra collection pavilion, the gold pagoda and the drum tower. The temple is well known within the Southeast Asian region and each year attracts Buddhist monks and visitors from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar and Laos.

The well-known traditional festival is the Dai New Year, known as the Water-Splashing Festival. It lasts for three days from April 13 to 15. Besides the water festival event it also consists of some other events such as Dragon boat races, firing of indigenous missiles, flying Kongming Lamps.

When evening falls, city center is transformed into a festive ground for the people of Shangrila. Hand-in-hand, they form a circle and perform Tibetan folk dances to the notes of joyous music. The cheerful atmosphere will tempt you to join them in dance. As more people join in, the circle becomes larger and larger, until it finally breaks up into more circles. For a deeper experience of the local culture, you can visit local Tibetan families, who sometimes perform folk dance performances while always offering baked lamb and yak.

Main Shangri-La Entertainment Events Dukezong Old Town 

Dukezong Old Town

If you have an accommodation in the Dukezong ancient town of Shangri-La, you should take a stroll in the evening. Dukezong has another beautiful name, Moon Town, and offers sanctuary to all those seeking refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life. Perhaps, ambling along the stone-paved lanes with a full moon shining brightly in the sky above Shangri-La, you will feel the romance that first attracted James Hilton. If not, Pijiangpo Street features a number of bars and is the center of the little town ‘s nightlife.

Horse Racing Festival 

The horse racing festival usually takes place in June, between the harvesting and planting season when the people are not so busy. This is the liveliest traditional Tibetan festival in Shangri-La. At this time of year, the flowers in Shangri-La seem to be competing for beauty. The pastures are lush and the animals grow strong and healthy on them. Tibetan people from thousands of villages come to the mountain to pitch tents and prepare for picnics. They also hold a huge race exemplifying horsemanship and speed and hearkening back to the ancient time when horses were a part of everyday life. Song and dance performances and traditional fairs are also held at this time. All these activities add to the exciting atmosphere of the festival.

Go Skiing! 

Go skiing! A new ski resort has opened, about 15 minutes west of town on Shika Mountain. Shangri-la often host top sport events about ski.

Festival of Dulong People

Kaquewa Festival is the only New Year Festival of the Dulong ethnic group. It is held during the eleventh and twelfth lunar months. The exact date varies with the location and the duration of the celebration often lasts as long as the food does.

The most exciting activity during the festival is killing and sacrificing an ox. At the beginning of the ceremony, a sacrificial ox will be fastened onto the sacrificial pole by the presider. Then women will put a newly-woven carpet onto the back of the ox, hang a string of beads on its horns and say to the God of Hunting: “We present this ox to you and hope you will bestow us many, many animals”. Everybody dances around it. A young man whose parents are both alive will be elected to kill the ox with a spear. The ox will be roasted after being killed. Everybody present at the festivities has a share. 

Yunnan, especially the western part, is an important cultural source of ancient China, and Nujiang Prefecture was the hometown of many primitive tribes. Along with many regions in Yunnan, Nujiang was brought under the administration of the central government in the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD), and was later governed by Nanzhao (738-937) and Dali (937-1253) states during the Tang and Song dynasties. Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Region was established in 1954 and changed to a prefecture three years later.  

The most important history in Nujiang is abut the Flying Tigers.The history of the Flying Tigers and the World War II in Yunnan begins with the Japanese invasion of China in July 1937. Japan’s attempt to seize northeast China had provoked a drawn out war that the Japanese were unprepared to fight. Japan’s advance up the Yangtze River valley in 1937-1938 halted short of the then Chinese capital Chongqing. The British and French in Indo-China sent supplies along the railway from Hanoi to Kunming and then on to Chongqing. In 1940, however, France surrendered to Germany, Japan’s ally, and the new French government in Vichy was forced to transfer effective control of Indo-China to Japan. This cut the last route into China from western aid. The British and Americans immediately began the construction of a new land route into China by building a road from the railhead in Lashio, Burma to Kunming. This road, known as the Burma Road, was built by hand and took 10 months to complete.

The Chinese government asked the United States in October 1940 to provide them with 500 planes and pilots, as well as provide loans to cover operating costs. The United States, unable and unwilling to fill such a large order, eventually agreed to send 100 P-40 fighter planes originally scheduled to be sent to Britain, as well as allow the Chinese to recruit a volunteer force of 100 pilots from the U.S. air force. These pilots would be known as the American Volunteer Group (AVG) and would be led personally by Claire Lee Chennault, a former Army Air Corps pilot. The would be mercenaries in the service of the Chinese Air Force (CAF) and would be paid $750 a month in addition to a bonus of $500 for every Japanese aircraft shot down. They began arriving in Rangoon, Burma for training in November 1941.

On December 7, 1941, Japan declared war on and attacked the possessions of the United States, Great Britain, and the Netherlands. China now had a host of allies in their war against Japan, but at first the war went against the new alliance. The Japanese overran most of the western territory in China by the end of December. They also destroyed most of the U.S. Pacific Fleet at anchor in Pearl Harbor, as well as destroying most of the Allies Asiatic fleets. As 1942 dawned, the Japanese had invaded the Philippines and Malaysia and were advancing steadily. The kingdom of Siam (Thailand) joined the Japanese and this seriously threatened the allied position in Burma. The Japanese invaded Burma on January 15, 1942 and the AVG were forced into action early in order to defend Rangoon. Although unsuccessful in holding Rangoon, the city fell on March 7, they fought well and established a legendary reputation that did a lot to boost sagging American morale. It was at this time that they acquired their nickname: Flying Tigers. On April 29, Lashio fell, cutting the last land supply route into China. On May 8, the Japanese 29th Infantry Division crossed into Yunnan via the Burma Road.

With the Burma Road cut off, the Allies had to create another way of supplying China to keep them in the war. The solution was to fly supplies from allied airfields in Assam, India to airfields in China. Because of the danger of Japanese fighter interception, the flights had to be flown in a large semicircle to north over the Himalayas. These flights came to be known as the Hump flights. Planning for both the Hump flights and another massive project, the construction of a new road from Ledo, India through north Burma into Yunnan, began in January 1942. The air route was 550 miles from Assam to Kunming and was flown at altitudes reaching 17,000-20,000 feet. This was extremely dangerous for un-pressurized aircrafts. New airfields were constructed allover southwest China to serve the Hump flights.

On July 4, 1942, the Flying Tigers of the AVG were reincorporated into the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). They were renamed the China Air Task Force (CATF), a component of the 10th Air Force, and were commanded by newly promoted Brigadier General Chennault. On March 11, 1943, further reorganization placed all American air units in Yunnan under the command of Major General Chennault’s 14th Air Forth. This would include all fighter, bomber and transport units.

Entertainment of Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture

Dehong was called “Ancient Mengmao Kingdom” in the recording of The Pattra Sutra; it was named as the “Dianyue Elephant Riding Kingdom” under the pen of Simaqian; it was the Jinchi Kingdom in the book of “Marcopolo and His Travels”. Dehong is not only the outlet of the ancient “The Southwest Silk Road of China”, but also the outlet of the Yunnan-Myanmar Road. At present，it is still the golden port leading to South Asia and Southeast Asia. Since its founding in 1953, the Dehong Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture has been a great concern of the leaders of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. The older generation of party and state leaders such as Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai concerns the troops stationed in border areas, cadres and the people of all nationalities. Whatever, different ethnic groups live in the pure land in harmony.

The area was declared an autonomous region in 1953, and in May 1956 became an autonomous prefecture. In 1960 when interprovincial migration took place many farmers came to Yunnan to farm bananas. This was during the “Great Leap Forward” when a biologist working for Mao Zedong wrote an article about the weather in Yunnan being very suitable for bananas to be planted. A very long time ago before this many Chinese were in fact very scared of going there because of an illness that lurked about. It was later discovered that this was an identifiable tropical disease. The farmers helped to get rid of the disease. They made clearings, roads and space for fields and plantations.

Dehong region was inhabited long before Emperor Wu (Han Dynasty 156 – 87 BC) decided to pave parts of the Southern Silk Road in 109 BC. The Southern Silk Road was an important trade route through the mountains and valleys of Yunnan, linking Baoshan with Dehong and delving far into Burma, India and other bordering countries. During the Han and Tang Dynasties (618 -907 AD) this line of communication created ties between China and the countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. It also played a role in developing the economy and culture of the minority groups on China’s southwestern border.

In 1277, Kublai Khan fought a famous battle in Baoshan, the neighboring region to Dehong. With 12,000 Mongol troops, Khan beat out the 60,000 Burmese soldiers and their 2,000 elephants in large-scale warfare against the Burmese king. As the story goes, Khan’s archers were able to start a stampede of the Burmese elephants back against their own lines. Khan then left relatives to govern from within walled towns.

Later, the area was mainly controlled by hereditary land owners. In the 1940s, 250,000 Chinese troops fought to keep the Japanese from invading through Burma. The Japanese Air Force repeatedly bombed the Flying Tigers base not far from Dehong. The Flying Tigers were a volunteer group from the American army who trained in Burma before the Americans joined WWII. They are famous for downing 300 enemy aircraft with a loss of only twelve of their own in combat.

In most recent times, Dehong has gotten a reputation for the types of weird and wonderful goods that have passed through the border. Yunnan’s most western town, Ruili, has especially become notorious for being the main entry point for Burmese heroin to China. The illegal drug trafficking has lead to a local pun “Feed a chicken in China and you get an egg in Burma.”

The original inhabitants of Dehong plain are mainly Dai ethnic minority, an ethnic minority with a long history and civilization. The men are gentle and kind, and the women are elegant and hardworking. The mountainous residents are mainly Jingpo people. This is a minority that migrated from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in ancient times. They are brave and unrestrained. Here, travelers can dance with the elegant ethnic girls and play the drum with the strong boys. Dancing peacocks and beautiful songs will gain your attentions.

Dai, Jingpo, Lisu, Achang and De’ang live here generation by generation. These ethnic minority live cross border. They keep the trade contacts and cultural exchanges.

Festivals

1.The Water-splashing Festival is the traditional festival of Dai and De’ang nationalities, held on the New Year’s Day in Dai Calendar in middle of April.

2.Munaozongge is the traditional festival of Jingpo Nationality. It used to be held during sacrifice offering and ceremony on 15th of the first month of each year.

3.The Kuoshi Festival is also called the New Year Celebrating Festival. It is a grand event of Lisu people, who, during the festival, male and female, old and young, dance and singing hand in hand for the whole night around a bonfire.

4.Aluwoluo Festival is the most important festival of Achang ethnic minority, deriving from ancient religious ceremony.

Religion
Hinayana Buddhism is the major religion in Dehong. Dai and De’ang ethnic minorities believe in it. The pagodas and Zhuangfang (temple in Dai villages) are built in every Dai villages, which are the typical architectures in Dehong. The representative architectures is the Menghuan Grand Golden Pagoda. Most of villages will pray in Zhuangfang and pagodas in certain time.

Jingpo people worship nature and their ancestors, which can be seen in their sacrifice ceremony.

Custom

Dai and Jingpo ethnic minorities are the major ones here.

At first, Dai ethnic minority live in the plain and they do well in agriculture. They like living in group and teamwork. They respect the old and cherish the young and help each other. In daily life, they are good at handicraft, like bamboo weaving and brocade. Dai ethnic minority favors dancing and singing which is necessary in ceremony, labor work and festivals.

Jingpo ethnic minority live among the mountain, so they have good hunting skill. The sword is taken with the men all the time. Brocade and embroidery are the necessary skill of Jingpo girls. All of their dress are made by themselves. The colorful and unique dresses are their best work. They worship the nature and their ethnic hero. The goup dancing in Munaozongge Festival represents Jingpo’s enthusiasm and solidarity.

Costume

Dai people:the traditional men clothes include open-front coat with tight sleeves and no collar, long loose trousers, and a pink, green or white turbans. In addition, Dai men carry satchels at their sides and carry swords at the girdle.Women clothes include open-front coat with tight sleeves and loop laps and sarong. Their waistbands are usually silver ones.
Jingpo people:there are daily costume, festival costume and ritual costume. Women’ daily costume consists of a collarless blouse, colorful skirts, bags, earrings etc., and men’ s daily costume consist of white or blue-purple cloth turbans, round-collar shirts, short black trousers, bags and swords. They will add more decoration and accessory to the festival and ritual costume.

Over 20 minorities live in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, including Dai, Jingpo, Achang, Lisu and De’ang ethnic groups. There are colorful cultural events with ethnic characteristics, including the world’s largest ethnic mass dance, Munao Zongge. As the cradle of the Dai ethnic group, the prefecture still well keeps Nandian Propitiatory Commissioner’s Office Building, the “Dai palace.” Here is full of deep pauk-phaw (brotherhood) between the people of China and Myanmar, colorful cultures of ethnic groups, unique religion and beautiful landscape.

In times past, Dehong was an important place along the ancient Silk Road. Today, it is a key part of the Yunnan-Burma Road and is home to a number of vivid cultural products. Dehong’s two ports of Ruili and Wanding play an important role in connecting China and the other countries in Asia.

Falling in line with the country’s Belt and Road Initiatives, Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture have constructed a comprehensive cultural industry, which comprises of the jewelry cultural industry, rosewood cultural industry, folk crafts industry and folk entertainment industry.

Jade carving art work (Photo from chinadaily.com.cn)

Jewelry cultural industry

Emerald necklace art work (Photo from chinadaily.com.cn) 

Dehong is located at the intersection of the world’s two biggest gem mineralized tectonic belts and is close to the gem-rich country of Burma. Yunnan also has a long tradition of jewelry trade and cultural exchanges with Burma, resulting in a prominent advantage in raw materials imports. Yunnan currently sits at the frontier of the jewelry industry.

In recent years, Dehong jewelry culture industry has formed a complete industrial chain including the import of raw materials, production, research and design. More than 8,000 jewelers from different places have gathered in Yunnan province. Some local brands such as Wang Chaoyang and Dong Yuchun have become well-known brands in jewelry industry.

Rosewood cultural industry

Rosewood boutique (Photo from chinadaily.com.cn)

Thanks to Dehong’s unique geographical advantage, it has become the rosewood resource center of Southeast and South Asia. With the country’s rapid economic development, Dehong’s rosewood furniture industry has also developed rapidly in the last 10 years.

According to statistics, there are more than 410 enterprises-including more than 70 mid-sized enterprises-carrying out rosewood production, processing and marketing businesses in Dehong. The number of employees in Dehong’s rosewood industry amounts to almost 20,000, including designers and carvers.

Cucurbit flute cultural industry

Finished rosewood cucurbit flutes (Photo from chinadaily.com.cn)

As curcubit flute music from musician Gen Dequan has been widely spread at home and abroad, Dehong has gradually formed a complete cucurbit flute cultural industrial chain.

As a traditional instrument of Dai, Achang and De’ang ethnicities, the history of the cucurbit flute dates back to the pre-Qin era (the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, 770-221 BC).

The Lianghe cucurbit flute has been declared as the only national geographical indications instrument in China by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

In times past, Dehong was an important place along the ancient Silk Road. Today, it is a key part of the Yunnan-Burma Road and is home to a number of vivid cultural products. Dehong’s two ports of Ruili and Wanding play an important role in connecting China and the other countries in Asia.

Falling in line with the country’s Belt and Road Initiatives, Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture have constructed a comprehensive cultural industry, which comprises of the jewelry cultural industry, rosewood cultural industry, folk crafts industry and folk entertainment industry.

Husa knife production industry

Husa knife (photo from chinadaily.com.cn)

The Husa knife originated in the Husa Achang ethnic settlements in Longchuan county and is also referred to as the Achang knife. The Husa knife has been included as a national intangible cultural heritage and is favored by domestic and foreign merchants.

On May 20, 2006, Achang knife forging skills were approved to be included in the first baaatch of national intangible cultural heritage by the State Council. The Achang knife has a long history and was favorable in the early in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911). The knife is currently exported to different countries and regions, including Burma.

Ethnic brocade culture

Brocade from the Dai ethnic group (photo from chinadaily.com.cn)

Dehong has the geographical advantage of being located along the ancient Silk Road. Dai brocade is influenced by Shu brocade in its weaving techniques.

In 2008, the Dai brocade technique was approved by the State Council and included in the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage. Dai brocade has a vivid color and evokes a strong visual impact with its bright colors, high purity and high saturation. Its red, yellow and green colors form a sharp contrast with the black and dark red bottom.

Dai brocade industry produces many traditional and modern products, such as Tongpa (bag), skirts and tablecloths.

Entertainment of Lincang City

During Shang dynasty, the place called “Baihuai”. In the period of the republic of china, it set up Shunning county(顺宁县), Yunxian county(云县), Mianning county(缅宁县), Zhenkang county(镇康县), shuangjiang county(双江县) and Cangyuan and Gengma administrative bureau. In the early year of New China, counties in now Lincang city belong to Baoshan prefecture(保山专区), Dali prefecture(大理专区) and pu’er prefecture(普洱专区) respectively. In 1952, Mianning county(current Linxiang district) which once belonged to Dali prefecture, Shuangjiang county and Gengma county which belonged to Baoshan prefecture and Cangyuan county which belonged to Pu’er prefecture, four counties were marked off to establish Mianning prefecture(缅宁专区). From 1953 to 1956, Zhenkang county, Shunning county and Yunxian county were drawn from Baoshan prefecture and Dali prefecture. Mianning prefecture was changed to Lincang Prefecture(临沧专区) in 1954 and Lincang district in 1970. On December 26^th, 2003, the state council approved the cancellation of Lincang District(临沧地区) and set up prefecture-level Lincang city.

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