Great Buddha Statue, Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China
Great Buddha Statue Jinghong Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China. During the Cultural Revolution, locals covered the giant Buddha statues in the temple with pictures of Mao Zedong to prevent the radical Red Guard from smashing the statues, which they were mandated to do so under the directive of destroying all the old traditions.
Dai New Year in Yunnan (Part Two)
For Day 2 of 3 in the Dai New Year celebrations in southern Yunnan, most people head to the local temple to perform the ritual of washing the Buddha. Spend the rest of the afternoon strolling around the park, and then take in a cultural performance in the evening.
A temple across the way from our hotel
One night in Jinghong, about to get out of the tourist trap for a bit of real Dai culture
云K – Xishuangbanna=云, Yún,CN
Aini Village String Ceremony - IES Abroad 2014
A traditional string ceremony at the Aini village we stayed in in southern Yunnan Province (Xishuangbanna prefecture), China as part of the IES Abroad Fall 2014 Kunming program. Featured in this video is IES Abroad Kunming program director Brian Eyler.
The ceremony is meant to ensure safe travels and protect the traveler's soul by binding it to the body. Additionally, the bracelet serves to prove that the traveler has visited the village in the past, and thus when/if they return to the village, they will be welcomed back warmly. The bracelet is not meant to be removed, but rather left on until it falls off naturally.