Dali - Festival of the Third Month Sanyue Jie

Festival of the Third Month (Sanyue Jie): This Festival - an open-air market which has been organized by the Bai in the west of Dali for more than 1000 years - is held annually on the 15th day of the third month (hence its name) and usually lasts for between five and seven days. Other national minorities, many of whom travel here from far afield, also take part wearing their festive costumes.

This festival was first held in the Tang era (618-907) in honor of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, which is why it is sometimes called the Guanyin Jie. Everything imaginable is offered for sale on the richly stocked stalls, ranging from conventional medicines to everyday objects and even horses, while the people enjoy singing, dancing and various contests such as horse-racing and longship races.