The Fishing Opening Festival of Erhai Lake in Dali

Overview

Chinese Name:大理洱海开海节

English Name: The Fishing Opening Festival of Erhai Lake in Dali

Location: Dali

The Erhai Lake Fishing Opening Festival in Dali, Yunnan, is a traditional festival for the people of the Erhai Lake region. For 4,000 years, the fishermen along the shores of Erhai Lake have maintained the tradition of going out to sea to fish between June and July each year. On this day, the vast Erhai Lake is filled with sails as people enjoy the beautiful scenery and savor the fishing songs of Erhai.

For the fishermen living by Erhai Lake, the Fishing Opening Festival is the most grand and important celebration. With ancient fishing villages, lush green mountains, clear waters, blue skies, and white clouds, this way of life has been passed down through generations. The locals believe that their way of life is blessed by the sea god. The most important part of the festival is the sea worship ceremony. This ceremony includes welcoming the Southern Zhao sea god, offering sacrifices, the sea god’s inspection of the waters, releasing fish back into the lake, and a boat racing competition, all in hopes of favorable weather, abundant catches, and peace and prosperity for the country and its people.

After the sea worship ceremony, the fishermen set sail with the sound of drums and music, singing fishing songs as they head out to catch fish. The lake surface in front of Hongshan Peninsula in Shuanglang Town, Dali, sparkles under the sun, dotted with white sails. Under the blue sky and white clouds, a spectacular scene of “hundreds of sails competing and thousands of people fishing” unfolds. Fishermen paddle their boats while casting nets and pulling fish traps, shouting out loud fishing chants, re-enacting the ancient and traditional fishing scenes of a thousand years ago. Bai ethnic young men and women stand at the bow of the boats, singing beautiful and moving fishing songs, expressing the love of the Dali people for their “Mother Lake” through these songs and call-and-response singing.

Thousands of tourists from both home and abroad gather with local Bai fishermen in this ancient fishing village to celebrate the annual traditional festival, sharing in the joy of the harvest. For hundreds of years, the Erhai Lake Fishing Opening Festival has been one of the most distinctive festivals in the Dali region, with significant participation from various ethnic groups. The festival has been held for six consecutive years, showcasing the ancient customs and charming culture of the Bai fishing villages, which have over 4,000 years of history. The brand “Enjoying the Scenery, Savoring Fishing Songs, Appreciating Bai Culture” has further enhanced the attractiveness and competitiveness of the tourism circle around Erhai Lake, increasing the visibility and reputation of Dali tourism. The Fishing Opening Festival has become one of the most distinctive, attractive folk ethnic festivals and cultural tourism celebration brands.

During the Fishing Opening Festival, fishermen also organized traditional Bai music performances, Bai dance shows, Bai singing competitions, displays of Bai intangible cultural heritage, and demonstrations of Shuanglang folk skills.

*Travel Route: Kunming–Chuxiong–Dali

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