Slideshows Yunnan
Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture 大理白族自治州

A traditional Chinese folk play performance by a professional troupe from Xiaguan.

On occasion of the Black Dragon Fair near Fengyu, villagers perform a traditional folk play.

The festival in honour of Baofeng's patron saint, the Benzhu, is part of Dali's intangible cultural heritage.

Yunlong uniquely has two Wenmiao 文庙, temples to Confucius, one in Nuodeng 诺邓 and one in Baofeng 宝丰, the old county seat. Here are the celebrations on occasion of Confucius' birthday in Baofeng.

Chuichuiqiang is an ancient form of folk opera, only preserved in Yunlong county, where it is performed during the New Year period. Here is the performance in 箐干坪 Qingganping village.

The Black Dragon Fair 黑龙会 is a folk worship event in Zhuangshang village 庄上村 near Fengyu 风羽.

In Dali, the Dragon Boat races unusually take place on the day of the Torch Festival, on the eastern side of Erhai.

The Buddhist ritual release of live animals has a great tradition in Gusheng village, even giving the village its name.

Members of the Dongjing Ancient Music Association perform at the Benzhu Festival in Zhonghe village, on the slopes of Cangshan

Benzhu, the patron saints of Bai villages, have intricate family relationships, just like people. Here, a Benzhu is carried from the lake side village of Majiuyi all the way to Shangyangxi on the slopes of Cangshan.

Weishan town has the best preserved collection of Qing architecture in all of Yunnan province, including a recently restored complex including a Temple for the Yellow Emperor 玉皇阁.

Every year on the first day of the second lunar month, the statues of the Benzhu are brought into Fengyu to "inspect" the old town.