Diqing Festivals and Events

Discovering traditional ethnic festivals and activities is an important part of Yunnan travel. As the main minority inhabited in Diqing, Tibetan and Lisu people created brilliant culture and customs, among which the unique ethnic festivals of Tibetans enjoy high reputation and attract a crowd of tourists home and abroad. Here below are some festivals and activities in Diqing worth to experience.

Festivals in Diqing

Besides some Chinese traditional festivals, like New Year's Day (January 1), Spring Festival (usually in late Jan. or early Feb.; January 25, 2020), Lantern Festival (The 15th day of the 1st lunar month), Tomb Sweeping Day (15 days after the Spring equinox; April 4, 2020), Dragon Boat Festival(The 5th day of the 5th lunar month; June 25, 2020) and Mid-Autumn Day (The 15th day of the 8th lunar month; September 13, 2019), there are some ethnic festivals in Diqing prefecture as well.

Date Festivals Notes
The 1st of the 1st lunar month in the Tibetan calendar(藏历正月初一) Tibetan New Year/Losar Mon, Feb 24, 2020- Wed, Feb 26, 2020; traditional festivals of the Tibetan people
The 8th day of the 2nd lunar month Er Yue Ba(二月八) Baishuitai of Sanba township; Naxi festival
Around the 5th day of the 5th lunar month Horse Racing Festival Shangri-la city racecourse; Lasting 3 days
The 7th to 9th day of the 5th lunar month Xianzi Festival(弦子节) Traditional festivals of the Tibetan people; Deqin county
The 15th day of the 7th lunar month Dengba Festival(登巴节) Luoji township of Shangri-la; Tibetan festival
December 26- 29 in Tibetan calendar Gedong Festival(格冬节)/Tiaoshen Festival(跳神节) Songzanlin monastery of Shangri-la; Lasting 4 days
Around December 24th every year Kuoshi Festival(阔时节) Lisu New Year
February 15- 20 in Tibetan calendar Shugu Nisu Festival(舒古尼苏节) Yunling township of Deqin county; Tibetan ethnic minority
The 15th of the 7th lunar month Tuoxiangpi Festival(拖乡批节) Traditional festival of Lisu ethnic minority
Every year in the 4th lunar month Arrow Shooting Festival Deqin county; Tibetan festival
The 15th day of the 1st lunar month Molang Qinbo Festival(默朗钦波节) Buddhist festival
The 15th day of the 3rd lunar month Holy Mountain Festival Shengping town of Deqin county; Tibetan festival
The 9th or 10th lunar month Shouhuo (Harvest) Festival Festival of Lisu
The 8th day of the 2nd lunar month Daogan Festival(刀杆节) Traditional festival of Lisu
The 24th- 25th day of 6th lunar month Torch Festival Traditional festival of Lisu
The 15th of the 7th lunar month Mountain Pilgrimage Festival Pumi ethnic minority
June 29th- July 1st in Tibetan calendar(August 30- September 5, 2019) Shoton Festival Tibetan ethnic minority

Activities in Diqing

As a popular tourist destination, Diqing prefecture offers various kinds of recreative activities. Visiting a Tibetan family, paying a visit to Thangka center and watching a traditional dance, you will experience the ethnic culture in Diqing personally.

Date Activities Notes
Every Day Tibetan Family Daytime Visiting in Shangri-La Learn Tibetan culture and taste Tibetan food
Every Day Thangka Center in Shangri-La Visit and learn Thangka making
During festival, wedding and assembly, etc. Achi Mugua Dance(阿尺木刮歌舞) Lisu ethnic minority; Weixi county
During festival, wedding, assembly, etc. Reba Dance(热巴舞) Traditional dance of Tibetan and Lisu; National Intangible Cultural Heritage
During festival, wedding, assembly, etc. Guozhuang Dance(锅庄舞) Traditional dance of Tibetan; National Intangible Cultural Heritage

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Diqing Festival Tours

Our Diqing festival tour can bring you to experience the famous festivals in Diqing, like Dengba festival, Gedong festival and Kuoshi festival, to learn and know more Diqing culture. At present, there is no specific route yet. But if you plan to start a Diqing festival tour, please contact our travel consultants, and they will customize a itinerary for you.

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