Dali Festivals and Events

Dali Festivals and Activities are very colorful and Dali is the best place to take a festival tour. There are 13 ethnic groups in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, namely, Han, Bai, Yi, Hui, Lisu, Miao, Naxi, Zhuang, Tibetan, Blang, Lahu, Achang, Dai and other ethnic groups. This part gives a brief introduction of festivals and activities in Dali, and tell travelers what to do when come to Dali.
Festivals in Dali
As the prominent ethnic minority inhabited in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Bai Ethnic Minority created brilliant culture and customs, among which the unique traditional festivals of Bai people enjoy good fame and attract tourists home and abroad to visit.
Popular Festivals
- The Fishing Opening Festival
- Hungry Ghost Festival
- Dragon Boat Race Festival
- Xiaojizu Singing Festival
- March Street (Sanyuejie) Festival
- Raosanling Festival
Festivals by Regions in Dali
Dali City
Date | Festival | Ethnic Minority |
January 10 of Lunar Calendar | Benzhu Worship Festival | Bai |
February | Flower Festival (Huazhaojie) | Bai |
February 15 of Lunar Calendar | Tianfengshan Mountain Song Festival | Bai |
March 15-21 of Lunar Calendar | March Street (Sanyuejie) Festival | Bai |
April 24-25 of Lunar Calendar | Raosanling Festival | Bai |
Weishan County
Date | Festival | Ethnic Minority |
February of Lunar Calendar | Jiejingu Festival | Bai |
February 8 of Lunar Calendar | Dage Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority | Yi |
February 8 of Lunar Calendar | The Ancestor Worship Festival | Yi |
February 8 of Lunar Calendar | Eryueba Festival | Yi |
March 12 of Islamic Calendar | Mawlid Festival of Hui Ethnic People | Hui |
March 12-18 | Weishan Snack Festival | Yi, Hui |
March 29-April 1 | Maanshan Pear Blossom Festival | Yi |
June 25 of Lunar Calendar | Torch Festival | Yi |
July 15 of Lunar Calendar | Ghost Festival | Yi |
September | Peasant Culture Festival | Yi |
October of Islamic Calendar | Eid al-Fitr Festival of Hui Ethnic People | Hui |
December of Islamic Calendar | Eid al-Adha Festival of Hui Ethnic Minority | Hui |
Nanjian County
Date | Festival | Ethnic Minority |
February 8 of Lunar Calendar | Yashen Festival | Yi |
March | Tea-leaves Picking Festival | Yi |
May 5 of Lunar Calendar | Sangwang Festival | Yi |
May 5 of Lunar Calendar | Red Bayberry Festival | Yi |
June 25 of Lunar Calendar | Torch Festival | Yi |
July 15 of Lunar Calendar | Ghost Festival | / |
November 25 | Wuliangshan Mountain Cherry Blossom Festival | / |
November 25 | Tiaocai Dance Art Festival | / |
Jianchuan County
Date | Festival | Ethnic Minority |
January 15 of Lunar Calendar | Qingguniang Festival (Women’s Festival) | Bai |
February 8 of Lunar Calendar | Prince Festival | Bai |
February 15 of Lunar Calendar | Nirvana Festival | Bai |
April 8 of Lunar Calendar | April 8th (Siyueba) Festival | Bai |
April 8 of Lunar Calendar | Buddha Birthday Festival | Bai |
June 15 of Lunar Calendar | Jianhu Lake Encircling Festival | Bai |
July 15 of Lunar Calendar | Yulanpen Festival | Bai |
July 27-August 1 of Lunar Calendar | Shibaoshan Folk Song Festival | Bai |
December 18 of Lunar Calendar | Laba Festival | Bai |
Eryuan County
Date | Festival | Ethnic Minority |
January 14-18 of Lunar Calendar | Naochunwang Festival | Bai |
March 12-26 | Cibihu Pear Blossom Festival | / |
June 13 of Lunar Calendar | Qingyuan Cave Singing Festival | Bai |
June 25 of Lunar Calendar | Haixihai Folk Song Festival | Bai |
July 23 of Lunar Calendar | Haideng Lantern Festival | Bai |
October of Islamic Calendar | Eid al-Fitr Festival of Hui Ethnic People | Hui |
Yangbi County
Date | Festival | Ethnic Minority |
February 8 of Lunar Calendar | Knife-ladder-climbing Festival | Lisu |
March 19 of Lunar Calendar | Dage Festival | Yi |
June 25 of Lunar Calendar | Torch Festival | Yi |
Yunlong County
Date | Festival | Ethnic Minority |
February 8 of Lunar Calendar | Bathing Festival | Bai |
March 30-April 1 | Tianchi Lake Pear Blossom Festival | / |
June 25 of Lunar Calendar | Torch Festival | Yi |
December 20 | Kuoshi Festival | Lisu |
Activities in Dali
As a popular destination for visitors, Dali offers all kinds of recreational activities. You can always find the activities full of fun, which can kick back and indulge yourself in the happy atmosphere. Come to Dali, and take part in Dali Activities.
Date | Activity | Location |
Every Monday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m | Shaping Monday Market in Dali | Dali City |
Every Friday | Shaxi Friday Market | Jianchuan County, Dali |
January 25 | Dali International Orchid and Camellia Fair | Dali City |
January 9 of Lunar Calendar | Dragon Lantern (Longdenghui) Festival | Nanjian County, Dali |
February 15 of Lunar Calendar | Sanying Agricultural Products Exchange Fair | Eryuan County, Dali |
February 19 of Lunar Calendar | Guanyin Temple Fiar | Dali City |
March 3 of Lunar Calendar | Xiaojizu Singing Festival | Dali City |
March 20 of Lunar Calendar | Lingbaoshan Mountain Pilgrimage | Nanjian County, Dali |
May of Lunar Calendar | Transplanting Rice Competition | Eryuan County, Dali |
July 3 of Lunar Calendar | Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Assembly | Jianchuan County, Dali |
August | Mule and Horse Trade Fair (August Fair) | Jianchuan County, Dali |
August 15-21 of Lunar Calendar | Bajie Agricultural Products Exchange Fair | Eryuan County, Dali |
Dali Minority Festival Tours
- 5 Days Wa Ethnic Minority’s New Rice Festival Tour
- 6 Days Kunming and Chuxiong Torch Festival Celebration Tour
- 17 Days Yunnan Ethnic Minorities Festivals Tour around Chinese New Year
Keep Reading
- Baoshan Festivals and Activities
- Chuxiong Festivals and Activities
- Kunming Festivals and Activities
- Dehong Festivals and Activities
- Diqing Festivals and Activities
- Honghe Festivals and Activities
- Lijiang Festivals and Activities
- Lincang Festivals and Activities
- Nujiang Festivals and Activities
- Pu'er Festivals and Activities
- Qujing Festivals and Activities
- Wenshan Festivals and Activities
- Xishuangbanna Festivals and Activities
- Yuxi Festivals and Activities
- Zhaotong Festivals and Activities
Xiazaotang Hot Spring in Caojian Town of Yunlong County, Dali
Chinese Name:云龙县漕涧镇下澡潭温泉 English Name:Xiazaotang Hot Spring in Caojian Town of Yunlong County, Dali Xiazaotang hot spring(下澡潭), located in the southeastern mountains of Caojian town(漕涧镇), nine kilometers away from the...
Nightlife in Dali
Dali Entertainment and Nightlife goes well beyond daytime activity. At night when people come out to play, the city’s clubs and bars are its heartbeat, positively pulsating with energy...
Erhai Lake Cruise
Erhai Lake is the largest highland lake next to Dianchi and one of the seven biggest fresh water lakes in China. It has its feature shaped as a human’s...
Shaping Monday Market in Dali
Shaping Monday Market Shaping Market, (About 30km north of Dali). Shaping Town offers a lively weekly market with plenty of local color. The market starts early. A great chance...
Tea-leaves Picking Festival of Wuliang Mountain in Nanjian County, Dali
Chinese Name: 南涧无量山采茶节 English Name:Tea-leaves Picking Festival of Wuliang Mountain in Nanjian County, Dali Chinese: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5edca6f40102xzfm.html...
Lingbaoshan Mountain Pilgrimage in Nanjian County, Dali
Chinese Name:大理南涧县灵宝山朝山会 English Name: Lingbaoshan Mountain Pilgrimage in Nanjian County, Dali Every year on the 20th day of the third lunar month, is the annual Mountain Pilgrimage in Lingbaoshan Mountain, Nanjian...
Mocui Tea House of Taoxigu Valley in Dali
Chinese Name:大理苍山桃溪谷莫催茶室 English Name: Mocui Tea House of Taoxigu Valley in Dali Mocui Tea House and Tea Plantation is located in Taoxigu Valley of Cangshan Mountain. Tourists can pick tea in Taoxigu Valley Tea...
Zijin Town Peasant Culture Festival in Weishan County, Dali
Chinese Name: 巍山县紫金乡农民文化节 English Name: Zijin Town Peasant Culture Festival in Weishan County, Dali http://www.dalidaily.com/redianzhuanti/20120919/080430.html...
Maanshan Pear Blossom Festival in Weishan County, Dali
Chinese Name:大理巍山县马鞍山梨花节 English Name: Maanshan Pear Blossom Festival in Weishan County, Dali http://union.china.com.cn/txt/2018-03/30/content_40273755.htm...
Dage Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Weishan County, Dali
Chinese Name:大理巍山彝族打歌节 English Name: Dage Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Weishan County, Dali http://m.sohu.com/a/65619876_345172/?pvid=000115_3w_a...
Ghost Festival in Weishan County, Dali
Chinese Name:大理巍山彝族七月半/鬼节 English Name: Ghost Festival in Weishan County, Dali 道教经典称阴历正月十五为上元,七月十五为中元,十月十五为下元,因此,七月十五为中元节。相传,七月初一至十五,阴间之门大开,祖先亡魂及孤魂野鬼都跑出来,为求祖宗保佑后人平安清吉要祭祀。巍山的习俗是从初一开始,就要在家中祖宗牌位前一日三餐上供,烧钱化纸。十四日这天上供的祭品最为丰盛,晚饭后则焚化纸衣饰金银纸钱。十五这天,巍山各村镇男女老幼聚集在城西阳瓜江边的三官殿,祈求天地水三官赐福、赦罪、解厄,到河边将家中燃化后的纸钱衣饰打包送走。逛西河桥这天,人山人海,热闹非凡。...
Eryueba Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Weishan County, Dali
Chinese Name:大理巍山彝族二月八 English Name: Eryueba Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Weishan County, Dali 据《蒙化志稿•人类志》记载,巍山彝族“以二月八为年,是日必将道路拦塞,祀密枯。各村皆置密枯树。祀时以黄牛绳系于旁,祝讫,一人持利斧劈牛首,后按人数分剖而归。”二月八,是彝族最为普遍的传统节,各地祭祀的内容和活动方式不尽一致。有栅大路、祭密枯神、祭龙、叫地脉魂的,有埋“草根”、祭“袄编”的,有祭“吾底”神的,有祭土主的,但都祭奉祖先。五印乡龙街一带祭“阿育”和“阿哺”两兄妹,简称“阿育哺”,用红叶树的叶子横排缝成波浪形,象征洪水滔天,用灯芯草芯子圈成三个圆圈,作为“日”、“月”、“星”。祭祀远古时代洪水滔天时,无处逃生并繁衍后代的彝族先祖——阿育和阿哺。晚上,举行打秋千、打歌等活动。 现在的彝族二月八极为隆重热闹,是祭祖、欢庆太平、祈求丰收的节日,已成为全国彝族同胞共同的祭祖日。当天,有来自全国各地的彝族代表在巍宝山南诏土主庙,举行盛大的祭土主、祭祖先活动。...