Jinghong - Water Festival Poshui Jie

Many tourists come to Jinghong in order to experience the Water Festival (Poshui Jie) which takes place every year in April, the New Year festival in the Dai calendar. In joyous mood the local people make their way to the banks of the Lancangjiang and shower one another with water; the wetter people become, the more good luck will come their way. These celebrations are linked to an old legend in which the people are said to have cleansed a maiden with bucketfuls of water because she had cut off the head of a monster and in so doing had soiled herself with his blood. During the festival longship races are also held.