| Yunnan is regarded as a microcosm of the | | | | headdresses that show the four famous scenes in |
| multinational China. It has 25 minorities, nearly half of | | | | Dali, namely the flowers in Shangguan, the wind in |
| the whole country's total number of 56. Each | | | | Xiaguan, the snow on the top of the Cangshan |
| minority, distributing in different corner of Yunnan | | | | Mountain and the moon reflected in the Elrhai Lake. |
| Province, has its own customs, history and culture | | | | The married women coil their hair and wrap it with |
| for thousands of years, celebrating their own | | | | black or embroidered cloth. |
| festivals which are really attractive and fascinating. | | | | The major festivals of the Bai People are the |
| With such diversity, Yunnan attracts the most people | | | | Raosanlin, the Torch Festival, the Patron God Festival |
| who are interested in ethnic culture and customs. | | | | and the Shibaoshan Mountain Song Festival. The most |
| Among the existing 25 minority groups, the Yi, Bai, | | | | important of all is the Third Month Fair in Dali which |
| Dai, Naxi, Zang (Tibetan) etc. are the majority and | | | | falls on March 15th on the lunar calendar and lasts 7 |
| most famous. They have dependent cultures, | | | | days. |
| customs, languages and histories. Most of them also | | | | Naxi People mainly live in Lijinag Naxi Autonomous |
| have their own religion beliefs, including Tibetan | | | | County, Ninlglang County, Yongsheng County and |
| Buddhism, Taoism and Muslim. In the past thousands | | | | Weixi, Zhongdian and Deqin counties in Diqing. "Naxi" |
| of year, they had co-existed and developed in peace | | | | means people who worship black or a nation. |
| and harmony. At present, many live in over-lapping | | | | The Naxi people have a splendid culture, of which the |
| areas and transracial marriage happens often. | | | | most important one is the Dongba language which |
| Yi People is one of the ancient ones in Yunnan. They | | | | consists of the only surviving hieroglyphic characters |
| are distributed over Chuxiong, Honghe, Ailaoshang | | | | in the world, The Naxi people have their own |
| and areas of Xiaoliangshang in Yunnan. Their language | | | | language, which belongs to the Tibet-Burmese Branch |
| is a branch of the family of Tibetan and Myanmar | | | | of the Sino-Tibetan language Family (Yi Branch). |
| languages. Yi lives in a type of house of wood | | | | The Naxi people believe in Mahayana Buddhism, |
| timbers battlement. The fire of fireplace (a hollow | | | | Taism and Lamaism. The famous Lijiang Murals well |
| dug on the ground) is never put off a year around in | | | | reveal their attitudes of broad-mindedness and their |
| their houses. It is the living center of the family so | | | | assimilation of diverse cultures. |
| called "Fireplace Culture". Yi people are so forthright, | | | | The costumes of the Naxi men are not very |
| good at drinking, singing and having a felt on the | | | | different from those of the Han people. The Naxi |
| back. The family system is the structure of a | | | | women usually wear coats with loose sleeves and |
| husband and one wife forming a small family. They | | | | buttons on the right, vests, long trousers and pleated |
| prefer to the black color, so in the history the Yi | | | | aprons. They also wear a goat-felt cape in the |
| nobleman was always in black, the white represented | | | | shoulders with the pattern of seven embroidered |
| the "Wazi" meaning the serfs. The man has a black | | | | circles symbolizing diligence and hard working. |
| scarf around the head and a set of black clothes. But | | | | The Mosuo people, a branch of the Naxi nationality, |
| the woman is in colorful shining clothes. Yi believes in | | | | still keep the unique Axia marital custom, and the |
| the Master of Soil and multi-Gods religion. Their main | | | | trace of a matrilineal system can still be seen in this |
| holiday is the "Festival of Torch"(Around in March) | | | | group. Therefore they are called the "Living Fossil" for |
| which adds great interests on Yunnan tours for many | | | | a study of the development of human family and |
| people. | | | | marriage. |
| Bai People mainly live in Dali Bai Autonomous | | | | The main festivals of the Naxi people are the |
| Prefecture and others are scattered in Kunming, | | | | Bangbanghui Festival on January 15th on the lunar |
| Yuanjiang, Lijiang and Lanping. Bai People hold the | | | | calendar, the Sanduo Festival in February 8th and the |
| white color in high esteem and call themselves "Baizi", | | | | live Stock Exchange Fair in March and June. |
| "Baini" or "Baihuo", which means white people. | | | | Recommended Yunnan Minority Festival Tour in |
| Since ancient times, the Bai people have established a | | | | March |
| close relationship with the Han and the Yi in the | | | | Day 01 Kunming |
| interior or the neighboring regions. After the Nanzhao | | | | Arrive in Kunming. |
| Kingdom, especially during the Dali Kingdom, all the | | | | Day 02 Kunming / Stone Forest |
| Bais in different areas became a nationality with | | | | A full day excursion to the Stone Forest, one of the |
| similar languages, cultures and economic structures. | | | | natural wonders of the area, and a typical Karstic |
| Now they have their own spoken language that | | | | Landscape. On the way, visit to a typical Yi minority |
| belongs to the Tibeto-Burman Stock of the | | | | village and meet the local people. Tonight you will |
| Sino-Tibetan Language Family. Many Bai people are | | | | witness the great Torch Festival of Yi People. |
| good at the Han language. They use the Han | | | | Day 03 Stone Forest / Luoping |
| characters as their writing system. Besides Buddhism | | | | Drive to Luoping in the morning. Visit the Nine-dragon |
| and Taoism, the worship of Patron God is most | | | | Waterfall, the grandest waterfall in Yunnan and due |
| popular. The Patron God Temple can be found in | | | | to different levels, the Waterfalls form a ten-layered |
| almost every village. Patron God is the Guardian of a | | | | waterfall. |
| village or a region. | | | | Day 04 Luoping |
| The Bai people's houses are unique. The typical style | | | | Drive to Duoyihe sightseeing area. Enjoy natural |
| is "sanfangyizhaobi" and "sihewutianjing." | | | | scenery and Buyi minority village. Drive back to |
| "Sanfangyizhaobi" refers to three houses on three | | | | Luoping in late afternoon. |
| sides and a decorative screen wall to reflect sunlight | | | | Day 05 Luoping / Puzhehei |
| to the house. " Sihewutianjing" is a house with a | | | | Drive to Puzhehei in the morning. Row little wooden |
| major courtyard and tour small ones at the four | | | | boats along the winding 21-km water corridor through |
| corners of the major one .The Bai people's houses | | | | Luoshuidong Lake. |
| are generally decorated with wooden carvings, stone | | | | Day 06 Puzhehei / Mile |
| carvings and marble, which add luster to the | | | | Drive to Mile. Upon arrival, visit a red wine bodega |
| traditional characteristics of the houses. | | | | and a grand Amitaba, the symbol of Mile. |
| The Bai people regard white as an honorable color | | | | Day 07 Mile / Kunming Tour |
| and like to wear white clothes. Men often wear white | | | | Drive back to Kunming in the morning. Upon arrival, |
| coats with black vests. Women like to wear white or | | | | enjoy a sightseeing tour to Western Hill with a |
| blue jackets with black or blue vests. Unmarried | | | | Dragon Gate carved into the sheer cliff, and |
| women like to have a pigtail, or wear beautiful | | | | spectacular views over Kunming and Dianchi Lake. |