Lijiang hosts Bangbang Festival

Lijiang hosted Bangbang Festival on Feb 22, the date of Chinese Lantern Festival, Xinhua reported.

A local sells handicrafts at Bangbang Festival in Lijiang, Yunnan on Feb 22, the date of Chinese Lantern Festival. [Photo/ Wang Xiaorong]

At the time of the annual Chinese Lantern Festival, a special ethnic event named Bangbang Festival is celebrated by the Naxi people in Lijiang, Yunnan province.

Chinese Lantern Festival signifies the end of Spring Festival, and marks the beginning of the spring planting.

Naxi people begin preparing for agricultural affairs after Spring Festival. They go out to do business; selling things they no longer use to buy what they need.

Bangbang is the general name in Chinese for agricultural tools such as baskets, harrows, rolling pins, hoes, and axes. The festival got the name because it was celebrated as an occasion to trade these objects.

In the past, Bangbang Festival was only a one-day event, but has grown to be three to four days per year. People wear their best costumes at Bangbang Festival and appreciate its various exhibits. Flowers and seedlings have replaced the dominating position of traditional agricultural tools to become main products.

Not only locals took part in the festival, which attracted people from well outside Lijiang to experience its unique ethnic and folk culture.

In recent years, Lijiang governments have been working hard on this traditional festival and have explored new activities to include various art exhibitions and performances with ethnic characteristics.

At Bangbang Festival, Naxi people sell sticks on Feb 22, the Chinese lantern Festival in Lijiang, Yunnan province. [Photo/ Wang Xiaorong]

Bangbang Festival, a unique celebration of the Naxi people in Lijiang, Yunnan province took place on Chinese Lantern Festival and attracted a number of visitors this year. [Photo/ Wang Xiaorong]