Market Days in Menglian and Townships, Puer

Menglian Dai, Lahu, and Wa Autonomous County (孟连傣族拉祜族佤族自治县) in Pu’er City is a region rich in ethnic diversity and culture, featuring numerous traditional markets that cater to both locals and tourists. The markets, or “ganji” (赶集日, market days), are vital cultural hubs for the exchange of goods, local produce, and ethnic crafts. This guide provides details on the market days across various towns, ethnic festivals, and other related activities in the county.

Regular Market Days by Town

Towns with Regular Market Days:

  • Gongxin Daoban (公信道班)

  • Fuyan (富岩)

  • County Town (县城)

  • Mengma (勐马)

  • Meng’a (勐啊)

  • Mangxin (芒信)

These towns follow a “four-day gap, market on the fifth day” cycle, meaning markets are held every five days.

Special Market Adjustments:

  • Meng’a (勐啊): Starting from January 2, 2024, the market day is adjusted to weekends, focusing on Southeast Asian snacks and cross-border goods.

Nanlei Agricultural Market (南垒农贸市场) and General Market (集贸市场):

  • Every 5 days, Nanlei Agricultural Market offers fresh mountain goods, and the General Market provides a broad range of commodities.

Daily Markets

These markets are open every day and offer a wide range of products for locals and visitors.

Market Information:

Market Name Location Key Features
General Market (集贸市场) Intersection of Customs Road (海关路) and Patang Road (帕当路) Full range of goods, covering all aspects of daily life.
Nanlei Agricultural Market (南垒农贸市场) In the county town (县城内) Daily opening with a focus on fresh mountain goods and ethnic cultural products.
East Town Community Market (城东社区农贸市场) Hidden within a building (楼房内) A market with a variety of small shops, ideal for finding unique goods.

Special Market Activities

Langle Ethnic Market (朗勒民族集市)

  • Date: June 27, 2025

  • Event: “Light + Fireworks” festival, combining film, food, and ethnic culture.

  • Fixed Market Day: Every Saturday.

Festival Markets

  • Water-Splashing Festival (泼水节) and Sacred Fish Festival (神鱼节): Held during May Day with a focus on ethnic markets and music performances.

  • Dragon Boat Festival Intangible Cultural Heritage Market (端午非遗集市): In June 2025, the event “Zongzi and Coffee Culture” will combine coffee culture with traditional crafts.

  • Colorful Peanut Harvest Festival (七彩花花生丰收季): Held from August 8-17, 2025, featuring agricultural product exhibitions and folk performances.

Seasonal Activities

  • Chinese New Year (春节): Includes a Cultural Heritage Market (非遗年货集市) and food streets during January 29 to February 4, 2025.

  • Water-Splashing Festival: A key event with traditional performances and water splashing activities.

Additional Notes

  • Lunar vs. Solar Calendar: Some activities, such as the Chinese New Year Cultural Heritage Market (春节非遗集市), follow the Lunar Calendar (农历), so the exact dates must be confirmed annually.

  • Updated Events: The Meng’a Weekend Market (勐啊周末集市) and Langle Saturday Market (朗勒周六集市), along with festival activities, have been newly introduced or adjusted for 2025. It’s recommended to confirm the schedule with local channels before visiting.

Weekly Market Schedule in Menglian County

Weekly Schedule (4.7-4.13)

Day Market Location
Sunday Mengma Market (勐马街)
Monday Menglian Market (孟连街)
Tuesday Mengma Market (勐马街)
Wednesday Gongxin Market (公信街)
Thursday Mangxin Market (芒信街)
Friday Fuyan Market (富岩街)
Saturday Menglian Market (孟连街)

Town-Specific Market Days

Gongxin Township (公信乡)

  • Market Day: Every five days (specific dates should be confirmed based on the local lunar or solar calendar).

  • Special Activity: Occasionally hosts disaster prevention and mitigation campaigns during market days.

Xinxin Township (景信乡)

  • Langle Village Rural Revitalization Industrial Park (朗勒村乡村振兴产业园): Fixed Saturday market, featuring an ethnic market and tea and coffee experiences.

  • Water-Splashing Festival (泼水节): Celebrated during Dai New Year (傣历新年), includes performances and water-splashing activities.

Nanyun Township (娜允镇)

  • Nanlei Agricultural Market (南垒农贸市场): Held every five days, near the Nanyun Ancient Town (娜允古镇), featuring mountain products and wild goods.

  • Spring Festival Activities (春节活动): From January 29 to February 4, 2025, the market will include cultural heritage items and food stalls.

Mengma Township (勐马镇)

  • Heha Scenic Area Water-Splashing Square (贺哈景区泼水广场): Held during Water-Splashing Festival (泼水节) (such as April 14, 2024), featuring folk performances and lantern displays.

Mangxin Township (芒信镇)

  • Border Trade Street (边贸街): A vibrant Saturday market, famous for street food like beef skewers (牛扒烀) and local snacks.

Fuyan Township (富岩镇)

  • Market Day: Every five days.

  • Special Activity: Previously used to promote cultural shifts (移风易俗) and traditional practices during market days.

Ethnic Festival Events

Dai “Ganbai” Festival (傣族“赶摆”)

  • Time: During the Water-Splashing Festival (泼水节), featuring rituals (祭祀), commerce (商贸), and folk performances (民俗表演).

Sacred Fish Festival (神鱼节)

  • Time: Held in April-May near Nanlei River (南垒河), featuring traditional fishing (捕鱼), lantern release (放河灯), and other cultural activities.

Important Reminders

  • Some market dates may change due to festivals or special events, so it is recommended to confirm with local sources.

  • Ethnic Festival Dates (民族节庆活动时间) follow the Lunar Calendar (农历) or Dai Calendar (傣历) and should be verified for each year.