Bangbang Festival: also known as the Stick Festival, this traditional Naxi event celebrates the start of the planting season. On the 15^th of January, locals flock to Square Street to buy and sell all kinds of farming equipment as well as trees, handicrafts and other interesting things.

San Duo Festival: the patron saint of the Naxi is San Duo, their protective god of war. On the 8^th of February each year the local Naxi population gets together in what is considered their most important annual event. On this day, the Naxi create a massive communal ceremony followed by family-based private rituals. Random entertainment and lots of action fill the streets of Lijiang on this day.

March Fair: to the north of Lijiang is the equally charming town of Dali. Every March the Yi and Bai ethnic groups hold their annual trade fair here. In a fascinating spectacle of time-worn commerce, people come from all around the region to buy and sell, watch serious horse races, wrestling matches and other entertaining activities.

Raoshan Ling: the Bai ethnic group pays tribute to their ancestors on this important day. Any Bai village in the Lijiang and Dali region will have some interesting centuries-old rituals going on this day.

Labour Day: one of China’s main national holidays is celebrated in Lijiang with noticeably less pomp than in cities such as Beijing. Nevertheless, most of the locals have a couple of days off work and the air is generally relaxed and friendly in town. Visitors will get a chance to see the normally hardworking Naxi and Han take a break and hang out with family and friends.

Torch Festival: the main festival of the Yi ethnic group, which lives in the outskirts of Lijiang, is held every 24^th of June. Originally created to protect their crops from insects by using fire, it has evolved into a lively regional trade fair enhanced by local entertainment. Night-time sees bonfires lit in every village as the Yi gather together for traditional singing and dancing. It’s a fun and festive event offering a rare look into Yi culture.

Zhuanshan Festival: this occasion is an important festival for the Mosuo ethnic group which lives around Lugu Lake. On the 25^th of July the Mosuo don their finest clothes and make their way by horse or on foot to Lion Mountain, which is the site of their guardian deity. Entertaining events such as horse racing, singing and wrestling cover the fields as prayer flags flutter in the breeze and incense fills the air. Young singles search for potential partners, adding a frivolous edge to this deeply spiritual affair.

Army Day: to commemorate the founding of the People’s Liberation Army, China holds an annual Army Day. This national holiday doesn’t get much hoopla in Lijiang, as most of the residents are Naxi, not Han Chinese. However, many people take advantage of the day off work to relax with family and friends.

Mid-Autumn Festival: sometimes known as the Mooncake Festival or Lantern Festival, this important Chinese holiday celebrates the bounty of the summer harvest. Apart from the tasty mooncakes on offer, cosy lanterns light up the night and fire dragon dances bounce through the streets during the daytime.

Snow Mountain Music Festival: the modern sounds of China’s music scene converge on Lijiang in this rare contemporary popular musical event. Hailed as the largest outdoor music concert in China, Lijiang’s famous mountain becomes the site for a range of Chinese rock and pop music.