Ethnic Customs

Kuoshi Festival—Carnival of the Lisu people

Kuoshi Festival—Carnival of the Lisu people

The Kuoshi Festival is the grandest traditional festival of the Lisu people. The Kuoshi Festival is equal to the New Year's Day for the Han people. In the language of the Lisu people, “Kuo” means “year” and “Shi” means “new.” The main activities of the Kuoshi Festival include: Sanxian Dance, playing mouth harp, blowing cucurbit flute, singing relay and singing relay dance, "Duda" (a game), "Tiaoga" (mass dance: singing about production and life in the past year); walking on fire, climbing the sword ladder (around Longchuan County) and slingshots.

Dates of the Event: during the Spring Festival (usually held on the 9th and 10th days of the first lunar month).