Kunming Festivals & Events
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| Hair-swaying dance of Wa Ethinic Group |
Kunming International Cultural Tourism FestivalAnnually held in May Day lasting five days in total, it is also celebrated with Kunming Carnival (lasting three days). Activities are held in squares, parks, pedestrian streets and scenic spots all round the city. Fancy car parade, dancing and singing performances, water splashing carnival, snack banquet and local long street banquet are all excited contents of the grand celebration. The whole city is full of joy at that moment.
Temple Fairs The Old Street is the 'forbidden city' of Kunming, showcasing the essence of the city's politics, culture and history. Old streets and lanes have almost vanished during the urban renewal in the past couple of years. Kunming Old Street luckily remains and the temple fair held annually from the 5th to 15th day of lunar January is becoming a bright name card. It attracts millions of visitors. Old Kunming flavor re-appear to people.
Traditional Gold Temple Fair is held from every 8th to 10th day of lunar January. Pilgrims all over the Mingfeng Mountain, local special products and snacks can be found from the mountain foot to the top. In the park, there are various entertainment activities and folk performance. Horticulture Expo
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| Dance is a vital part of Yunnan culture |
Ethnic FestivalsEthnic minorities are great parts of Yunnan culture. There are nearly thirty ethnic minority groups living in Kunming, a time-honored city which is regarded as one of the most important headstreams of Yunnan ethnic culture. Here is a gathering of many attractive traditional festivals worth admiring.
Torch Festival – In this traditional and grandest event of Yi ethnic minority, local Yi people will celebrate it on the 24th day of lunar June in Shilin Country. They gather and collected torch together into an burning tower, then sing and dance around the torch tower.
Hunting God Festival – Lieshen (Hunting God) festival of Yi ethnic group is held at Jiuxiang during the 1st to 3rd day of lunar January. Antiphonal singing, bullfight, dance and many other folk activities will be conducted.
Sanyuesan – It is a day for the locals to have spring outing for a walk and feast their eye on flowers. Different activities are held in gardens and scenic areas. It was especially busy in the West Hill and Gold Temple.
Festivals in Yunnan Nationalities Village
For most of visitors, it must be a perfect choice to admire the pomp of so many ethnic minorities in one place. That is Yunnan Nationalities Village in Kunming. Here is the detailed information about some festivals in the village:
Munao Zongge Festival of Jingpo (ethnic group)
Time: Late Feburary
Activities: tasting Jingpo rice wine, Munao Zongge dances
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| There are dance styles of many ethnic groups |
Time: Late Feburary
Activities: sacrificial activities to worship Sanduo (reportedly the god of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain), Naxi ancient music show, folk songs
Water-Splashing Festival of Dai
Time: mid-April
Activities: New Year of Dao ethnic group, splashing water to each other showing best wishes and many other celebrations
Shankang Festival of Blang
Time: 16th to 19th day of April
Activities: making sacrifice to the God of Mountain for good harvest, folk song and dance performances, eating the reunion dinner
Dengba Festival of Tibetan
Time: 5th to 6th of May
Activities: Tibetan Guozhuang Dance
Kuzhazha Festival of Hani
Time: Early August
Activities: riding a seesaw, pushing a swing, folk dances and songs
Xinmi Festival of Wa
Time: mid-October
Activities: beating the wooden drums, slaughtering cattle, folk performances, hosting a reunion of all Wa people