Overview
The Water-splashing Festival of the Dai commemorates Sakyamuni (the Buddha). This originates from the legend of ‘spraying fragrance and sprinkling rain onto the Buddha at his birth’. As both his birth and enlightenment is related to water. Buddhist followers believe water is no longer a common object, but a holy sweet dew and a symbol of good luck. Goodwill and blessings are passed on in the water splashed onto one another during the festival.
To enact the legend, the Dai people have built a dragon pavilion that resembles the home of Sakyamuni’s parents. To prepare for the festival, the elders move the statue of Buddha to the pavilion, and young people go to the local hills to pick flowers and mix them with water from the clear spring wells. This fragrant mixture is poured into the dragon channel. Glittering water sprays out of the dragon’s mouth, flows into the water umbrella and splashed onto the statue of Buddha. At this sight, the crowd cheer and throng to the statue. Wetting flowers and twigs in the holy water and sprinkling water onto one another, they give their best wishes.
At the same time, Dai men set off firecrackers and beat an Elephant Foot Drum, creating a vibrant and animated atmosphere. Spontancously, the crowd fetches water in buckets and splash to people around them.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01 (12th Apr.): Arrive in Jinghong
Day 02 (13th Apr.): Water-Splashing Festival Day
Day 03 (14th Apr.): Jinghong Sightseeing
Day 04 (15th Apr.): Jinghong – Menglun
Day 05 (16th Apr.): Menglun – Mengyuan
Day 06 (17th Apr.): Mengyuan – Mengla – Jinghong
Day 07 (18th Apr.): Jinghong Departure
Get Inspired
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Detail Itinerary
Day 01 (12th Apr.):: Arrive in Jinghong
Airport pick-up. Rest time is free for leisure or to be arranged according to the flight.
Day 02 (13th Apr.):: Water-Splashing Festival Day
At 09:00am, watch the carnival parade and festival activities. In the afternoon, view the fantastic dragon boat racing, visit a Dai family and their traditional weaving.
Day 03 (14th Apr.):: Jinghong Sightseeing
Take a short 1.5 hour drive to visit Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion. Later visit a Dai village and their workshop processing paper from the tree barks. Nearby Aini, Bulang and Lahu villages will be visited together. In the afternoon, visit a Pu’er tea processing factory that you can get more knowledge about tea making, have a cup of tea over the visiting.
Day 04 (15th Apr.):: Jinghong – Menglun
Takes about 1.5 hours driving to Menglun from Jinghong. Walking around the big tropical botanical garden in Menglun, where also offers good opportunities for birdwatching.
Day 05 (16th Apr.):: Menglun – Mengyuan
Drive short 1 hour to Mengyuan fairy land, visit a karst cave and take 1-2 hours treks across streams and rainforest.
Day 06 (17th Apr.):: Mengyuan – Mengla – Jinghong
Sighgtseeing in the border town of Mengla and beautiful Dai villages alongside the Nanla River. Then take 3 hours drive back to Jinghong. En the route, visit to a Dai ceramic family.
Day 07 (18th Apr.):: Jinghong Departure
Transfer to the airport according to the flight schedule.
