Events from July 1, 2024 – September 23, 2024

Kunming International Flower Expo of China

New@mekongtourism-mtco.org — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Kunming International Flower Expo is held annually in Kunming, China’s “City of Eternal Spring.” Kunming is chosen as the site for the expo because Yunnan Province is the flower capital of China, the best place for growing flowers. The Flower Expo was established in 1995 and grown into one of the leading events of the international floral industry.

Because of its unique geographical and climatic characteristics, Yunnan Province is a highly fertile region and a very favorable environment for flowers, one of the best places for flowers in the world. Yunnan is known as “fertile soil” of China’s floral industry. The province has been the top-producing region for fresh-cut flowers for 25 years in a row. It accounts for more than 80 percent of the national market.

The province is home to more than 6,000 flower producers. They plant flowers on 99,600 hectares with a total output of 6.26 billion freshly cut flowers and with output value amounting to 31.3 billion yuan, or about US$4.49 billion, during the first half of 2019.

The event takes place in a huge space. In 2019 the expo was held in a space of 50,000 square meters, more than 500,000 square feet. It was packed with the bright color and elegant natural beauty of flowers. The floor houses exhibitions of more than 400 leading floral companies who come to showcase their newest products, seeds, materials, facilities, processing, and floral services.

There are pavilions for exhibiting all aspects of the floral industry, including potted flowers, fresh-cut flowers, green plants, seedlings, bulbs, deep processed products, greenhouse equipment, irrigation systems, pesticides, fertilizers, gardening engineering, garden furniture, landscaping, packaging, flower arts training, e-commerce and logistics.

The Flower Expo draws people from all over the world, including flower companies and entrepreneurs, as well as people from all walks of life who love flowers.

For travelers visiting China the Kunming Flower Expo is a unique thrill, a chance to see more floral beauty at one place and time than one might normally see in a lifetime.

Holding Time

During July-September

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Cane Ball Festival (Warso Chin Lone Festival), Myanmar

New@mekongtourism-mtco.org — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This is the largest traditional sporting event in Myanmar. Celebrated each July at the Maha Muni Pagoda Compound, Mandalay, locals meet up and compete in this non-contact sport. The game consists of six team members. Each player passes the Chinlone (cane ball) without letting it touch the ground. Through this game, players wshowcase impressive acrobatic moves that include backflips, spinning kicks and handstands in the efforts to keep the ball from falling. Players are highly competitive as they strive to be the team that displays the best et of acrobatic skills.

Highlights: This Cane Ball Festival is held at Maha Muni Pagoda Compound, Mandalay every July. Players all over Myanmar gather to compete in this game. The game involves players showing impressive acrobatic moves to keep the ball from falling.

Location: Maha Muni Pagoda Compound, Mandalay

Date: Celebrated for 48 days after the Full Moon Day of Waso
(Myanmar Tourism Ministry)

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Yadana Gu Spirit Festival, Myanmar

New@mekongtourism-mtco.org — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This celebration lasts for eight days and is celebrated in Amarapura, Mandalay every August. This festival involves a huge gathering of spirit mediums who intend to honour Nat (spirits). Several rituals are conducted and the mediums are believed to be posessed by the Nats. This festival is also a tribute to the Goddess of Popa who is known better by the locals as the protector of women. Her shrine is situated on Popa Crest. Spirit mediums perform dances and songs accompanied by ritualistic music while attendees of the festival provide offerings to Nat and the Goddess in the forms of food, drinks, flowers, and money.

Highlights: Spirit mediums dance and get possessed by Nat. Pilgrims offer food, drinks, flowers, and money to the Nat and Goddess of Popa.

Location: Amarapura, Mandalay Region

Date: Celebrated from 8 days in August from the 1st to 8th Wanning of Wagaung
(Myanmar Tourism Ministry)

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Mountain Pilgrimage Festival, Yunnan, China

New@mekongtourism-mtco.org — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Mountain Pilgrimage Festival (Zhuanshanjie) on the 25th day of the 7th lunar month marks the Mosuo circumambulation of their holy Gemu Mountain (Gemu Nushen Shan). Festivities include religious activities like chanting and burning incense, family gatherings, folk performances and sporting events. This is the tail-end of wet season, so the weather is usually mild and sunny.

photo credit: 任东(云南分社)/中新社/视觉中国

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Boun Khao Padabdin (Rice Growing Festival), Lao PDR

New@mekongtourism-mtco.org — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Boun Hor Khao Padabdin (the literal translation is decorate (padab) dirt\earth (din))starts in the middle of the rainy season. This festival is held in commemoration of dead ancestors. Over two days, Buddhist devotees flock to the Vats (temples) carrying strays of offerings for monks and deceased ancestor. Music is traditionally performed in the grounds of the Vat while people make their donations. During Boun Khao Phansapadabdin, each household cooks a number of “khao Tom” to give to relatives and friends and some are reserved for giving alms to the monks. In the early morning at 4am to 5am, people place the “khao tom” and other food wrapped in banana leave or lotus leave in the four corners outside one’s house, the stairs, the spirit house, the rice storehouse, and on the gate, as well as on the ground so that the sprit can reach them. It is also the time to shoe respect to “Mae Thoranii” (the Earth God).

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Vietnam Independence Day

New@mekongtourism-mtco.org — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

On this day in 1945, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence in Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, marking the country’s freedom from colonialism. Every year since then, large parades and special events are held throughout the country, and especially in Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, to celebrate this national day.

Source: izitour.com

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Manuha Pagoda Festival, Myanmar

New@mekongtourism-mtco.org — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Villagers celebrate this festival in September at Myinkaba Village, Bagan. Merchants flock around the market at the Manuha pagoda bringing ox-carts filled with goods to be sold to locals and tourists. A variety of items can be found in the market, like delicacies, handicrafts and farm produce. The earnings proceed to be donated to the monks and temples. In the day, locals walk around parading the offerings and donations as well as participating in parading paper figurines that represent the many incarnations of the Lord Buddha. During nighttime, villagers continue celebrating the festival by dancing and participating in plays.

Highlights: The market like environment around the pagoda prompts tourists to buy from merchants. Offerings and figurines of the Lord Buddha’s incarnations are paraded around the pagoda.

Location: Myinkaba village, Bagan, Mandalay Region

Date: Celebrated for 2 days in September starting from one Day before the Full Moon Day of Tawthalin
(Myanmar Tourism Ministry)

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Boun Khao Salak Ancestor Festival, Lao PDR

New@mekongtourism-mtco.org — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This festival occurs during the 10th full moon of the lunar calendar. The purpose of the festival is to obtain merit by providing offerings to dead ancestors. The offerings to the dead are passed to monks during the morning ceremony at the temple, just after almsgiving. A basket is filled with food and daily amenities such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, cigarettes, etc. along with the names of the dead people the family wish to honor. The monks or novice the basket, then draws the name\s from the basket. In the evening at 7pm to 8pm, it is the for a candlelight procession (Wien Tien). Afterwards, the candles, incense the flowers are placed near the side of the Sim.

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Tet Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival), Viet Nam

New@mekongtourism-mtco.org — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The brightest and roundest full moon of the year shines during the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival, held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, usually in September or early October. Groups of costumed children roam the streets carrying colourful lanterns in the shape of stars, fish and butterflies. It’s traditional to give away boxes of Banh Trung Thu (mooncakes), traditional sweet pastry filled with lotus seeds, ground beans and orange peel, with a bright cooked yolk in the center to represent the moon. (Vietnam Tourism Ministry)

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Pakokku Thiho Shin Pagoda Festival, Myanmar

New@mekongtourism-mtco.org — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

During this festival, the humble and quiet Pakokku Thiho Shin Pagoda is transformed into an exciting and cheerful place. The festival consists of prayer rituals and a carnival-like fair. A variety of goods and harvest produce are sold in the stalls by farmers who bring in carts pulled by bulls. The festival involves the collection of alms from the locals who wish to contribute donations to the monks and the temple. The donations can be in the forms of food, basic necessities and even rice. Tourists can experience the authentic lifestyle of locals who spend their day in the market bargaining and purchasing from vendors. Tourists will be able to witness the meaningful harmony shared between the monks who have provided ritual services and the locals who are happy to provide aid to them.

Highlights: A carnival-like fair and prayer rituals can be seen during this festival. Locals and tourists can contribute donations to the monks and the temple.

Location: Pakokku, Central Myanmar

Date: Celebrated for 15 days from the 8th Waxing of Nayon.
(Myanmar Tourism Ministry)

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