Nayun Town, the Last Ancient City of Dai Ethnic Group in China
Nayun is a mysterious town in the south of Yunnan. One of the palaces with the highest hierarchy for Dai ethnic group in both China and Southeast Asia used to be situated here.
There is a saying "the north of Yunnan is famous for the Dayan Ancient Town in Lijiang and the south of Yunnan is well-known for Nayun Town in Menglian Dai, Lahu and Va Autonomous County." However, owing to the inconvenient transportation, Nayun didn't get the focus of public at an early time, leading to the well-preserved festival featured with Dai style.
Nayun Town is the downtown area of Menglian Dai, Lahu and Va Autonomous County, Simao City, Yunnan province. "Nayun" is homophonic of Dai language, meaning inner city. The central area of the town is about sixty km from the border between China and Myanmar. The altitude ranges from 950 meters to 2,239 meters here. With the average temperature of 19.6„, it is the last remaining ancient city of Dai ethnic group in China.
Built in 1289, the city is the best-preserved ritual architecture group of Dai in the system of appointing national minority hereditary headmen. A government office in feudal headman system of Dai used to be one of the palaces of Dai with the highest hierarchy in both China and Southeast Asia. Due to the relationship by affinity with the neighboring headmen, the headmen here were believed to have genetic relationship with the public in Southeast Asia, which had won the town eminent status and high reputation. "Dai people living in Myanmar and other countries in Southeast Asia pay religious homage to the town annually. Some women take off their shoes when they arrive at the door of the palace. With naked feet and bowed head, they pay respects to the supreme god in their heart. Nayuan Ancient Town has a kind of sense of identity and belonging for them."
Shenyu Festival: the only carnival on the water in the world
Shenyu means sacred fish literally. The carnival on the water is held every April and May beside Nanlei River which runs through the town. "Shenyu Festival" is the second most hilarious festival for Dai people except for the Water-Sprinkling Festival. There is a saying about the festival. Long time ago, Dai people lived a hard life. The Buddha dispatched the fiddlehead and fish to the place where Dai people live. The fish propagated in the river where the fiddlehead overgrew, which had improved people's life. In order to memorize the approach of the happiness, Shenyu Festival has been inherited since then.
There is a saying "the north of Yunnan is famous for the Dayan Ancient Town in Lijiang and the south of Yunnan is well-known for Nayun Town in Menglian Dai, Lahu and Va Autonomous County." However, owing to the inconvenient transportation, Nayun didn't get the focus of public at an early time, leading to the well-preserved festival featured with Dai style.
Nayun Town is the downtown area of Menglian Dai, Lahu and Va Autonomous County, Simao City, Yunnan province. "Nayun" is homophonic of Dai language, meaning inner city. The central area of the town is about sixty km from the border between China and Myanmar. The altitude ranges from 950 meters to 2,239 meters here. With the average temperature of 19.6„, it is the last remaining ancient city of Dai ethnic group in China.
Built in 1289, the city is the best-preserved ritual architecture group of Dai in the system of appointing national minority hereditary headmen. A government office in feudal headman system of Dai used to be one of the palaces of Dai with the highest hierarchy in both China and Southeast Asia. Due to the relationship by affinity with the neighboring headmen, the headmen here were believed to have genetic relationship with the public in Southeast Asia, which had won the town eminent status and high reputation. "Dai people living in Myanmar and other countries in Southeast Asia pay religious homage to the town annually. Some women take off their shoes when they arrive at the door of the palace. With naked feet and bowed head, they pay respects to the supreme god in their heart. Nayuan Ancient Town has a kind of sense of identity and belonging for them."
Shenyu Festival: the only carnival on the water in the world
Shenyu means sacred fish literally. The carnival on the water is held every April and May beside Nanlei River which runs through the town. "Shenyu Festival" is the second most hilarious festival for Dai people except for the Water-Sprinkling Festival. There is a saying about the festival. Long time ago, Dai people lived a hard life. The Buddha dispatched the fiddlehead and fish to the place where Dai people live. The fish propagated in the river where the fiddlehead overgrew, which had improved people's life. In order to memorize the approach of the happiness, Shenyu Festival has been inherited since then.
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