Songzanlin Lamasery

Also known as the "Little Potala Palace", Songzanlin was first built in 1679 as a five story complex in the style of a Tibetan watchtower. The structure is large enough to hold 1,600 people for meditation or scripture chanting.

May Horseracing Festival

The Horseracing Festival, part of the annual Dragon Boat Festival, is a tradition-steeped festival held on the Diqing Plateau and also the most joyful festival of the year in Zhongdian County.

On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, people gather and put up tents amongst the clusters of azaleas and prepare all kinds of delicious food for picnics. Traditional races and tests of horsemanship are held on the racetrack near the foot of the mountain. Dancing performances are also popular and there's a lively market stuffed full of local commodities.

February 8th

February 8th according to the lunar calendar is one of the most important and joyous festivals of Zhongdian County's Naxi people. During the festival, tens of thousands of people come from all over to gather at "White Water Terrace". They first offer chickens as sacrifices to Heaven and various other gods before settling down to dancing and horse racing.

CRI ENGLISH/Photo source:zhongguook.com)