Hotel marks Festival for Bathing Buddha

The Water Splashing Festival, also known as the Festival for Bathing Buddha is the most important for the Dai people. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Crowne Plaza Beijing Sun Palace is celebrating its seventh Yunnan Culture Festival with water splashing, a Yunnan-style barbeque and minority dancing until the end of this month.

During the event, guests are treated to a Xishuangbanna barbeque, Yunnan snacks, fruit wine and water splashing, a tradition celebrated by the Dai ethnic group annually in Southwest China's Yunnan province.

The Water Splashing Festival, also known as the Festival for Bathing Buddha is the most important for the Dai people. The festival marks New Year on the Dai calendar and is also marked in other countries including Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

This celebration includes light-hearted religious rituals that end with everyone getting splashed with water, a symbol of purity and goodwill.

It has become an annual tradition for the hotel to celebrate the festival during April or May.

If you go:

Outdoor marquee, Crowne Plaza Beijing Sun Palace, Yunnan Dasha, Northeast corner of Taiyanggong Bridge, Chaoyang district, Beijing 6-9:30pm, 29 and 30 May; 11:30am to 2:30pm, 31 May Ticket: 228 yuan ($36) net per person 010 6452 1616