Page 3 - YunnanTourismCultureTimes (110)

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HEADLINES | 要闻

The Third Month Fair, a prominent ethnic festival in Dali Bai Autonomous
Prefecture, Yunnan Province, boasts a history of over 1,300 years. It serves as a
grand traditional gathering for the Bai people, fostering both folk commerce and
vibrant cultural entertainment. In 2008, the Dali Third Month Fair was recog-
nized and inscribed into China’s national intangible cultural heritage list.
Today, the Dali Third Month Fair transcends its traditional roots. It now
serves as a comprehensive event, seamlessly integrating artistic performanc-
es, sports competitions, leisure and entertainment, and cultural preservation.
Moreover, it stands as a vital window for visitors worldwide to immerse
themselves in Dali’s unique culture. From April 12 to 18, the 2025 Third
Month Fair took place in Dali City, Dali Prefecture, drawing tourists from
diverse regions .
This year’s Third Month Fair commenced with a grand song and
dance drama titled “The Fair of a Millennium’s Embrace.” The drama
wove a historical narrative, guiding the audience through a thousand
years to experience the evolution of the Third Month Fair across different
historical periods. Over 1,000 performers and staff brought this millen-
nium-long story to life through immersive stage art, offering a magnifi-
cent audio-visual feast. Additionally, the event featured a vibrant array
of traditional ethnic songs and dances, such as the Bawangbian (rattle
stick dance), octagonal drum dance, and straw-hat dance, alongside
newer dance forms like ballet and street dance. A Bai ethnic wedding
performance also captivated attendees, allowing them to experience the
romance of Bai courtship traditions.
Ms. Li, a resident of Dali, remarked: “I found this year’s program
truly refreshing. The significant innovations in music style, costume color
schemes, and narrative rhythm allowed us to profoundly connect with the
rich history and unique charm of the Third Month Fair.”
After the opening ceremony, a minority costume exhibition was also
held at the South Gate Tower of Dali Ancient City. Performers from Dali Pre-
fecture, dressed in distinct ethnic wedding attire and creative Bai costumes,
walked down the dazzling T-stage. Tourists eagerly picked up their phones to
capture these beautiful moments.
The horse racing event stands as the very soul of the Third Month Fair.
This millennium-old competition has now evolved into an International Eth-
nic Horse Racing Invitational. This year, it proudly welcomed 18 teams from
across China. On the track, riders cracked whips and spurred their horses into
a thunderous gallop, their vibrant costumes billowing in the wind. Below,
the roar of the crowd swelled and receded in rhythmic waves. Beyond the
thrilling races, attendees could also immerse themselves in a diverse array of
captivating activities, including flower exhibitions, crossbow shooting, and
exhilarating swings.
The Third Month Fair also presents a true feast for the senses. A tanta-
lizing array of local specialties awaits, including Braised Yellow Chicken,
Sour and Spicy Fish, Thin Bean Jelly, Colorful Potatoes, Thousand-Layer
Oil Noodles, Rolled Noodles, Milk Cake with Ham, Steamed Mutton with
Rice Flour, and Stir-fried Fern with Green Peas. Each dish is meticulously
crafted from the freshest, premium ingredients, prepared with exquisite care
by masterful local chefs. The result is a harmonious blend of vibrant color,
captivating aroma, and unforgettable flavor, ensuring a truly mouth-watering
culinary experience.
“I hope everyone gets a chance to visit Dali and experience the local
culture,” said Zhao Jiapeng, who traveled all the way from Russia, dressed
in a Bai ethnic jacket and speaking fluent Mandarin. Mimo, a Bangladeshi
student who has been in Dali for two years, looked like a true “host”: “If you
come to Dali, we are waiting to welcome you.” Philippe Augier, the mayor
of Deauville, France, visited the racetrack to watch the event. He stated that
Deauville is a core city in France’s horse racing industry and boasts inter-
national-standard racetracks, adding that Dali and Deauville will explore
cooperation models in various aspects in the future. Meanwhile, 74-year-
old Granny Su, who had just performed at the opening ceremony of the 2025
Third Month Fair, said in the most authentic Bai dialect that she has been
attending the festival for over seventy years, and extended an invitation to
friends from all over the world: “I really love it when friends visit; everyone
is welcome!”

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