Description: Bai nationality (白族), a minority in the southwest of China, mainly distributes in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan province. On the 5th census, Bai nationality has a population of 1,858,063.
Language: Bai Language
Religion: All the Bai people believe in “Host Worship” that is the protector of Bai villages. Basically, one village sacrifices one host, sometimes, several villages sacrifice one host. Any person or subject getting a close contact with Bai village could be the host.
Clothing Character: Bai nationality considers white as dignity. Bai women in Dali are dressed on white coat and red waistcoat or blue coat and black velutum sleeveless vest, a embroidered waist warmer, a wide black trousers and embroidered shoes. Head is wrapped with colorful towel or embroidered cloth.
Food Culture: Bai nationality pay more attention to festivals, so there are timely food on every festival. Dingding sugar, rice flower tea and Jiangzhaifan are for the Spring Fesvials. Steamed cake and bean jelly are the food on the March Festival. On Qingming Festival, there are fried crisp meat and cold vegetable dish in sauce.
Rice dumpling and Xionghuang wine are special for the Dragon Boat Festival. They take sweet food and candy on Torch Festival. On the Mid-Autumn Day, they make white cake and tipsy cake. Fat mutton is for the Double Nine Festival.
Festivals: Torch Festival (火把节) is an ancient and important traditional festival for Bai nationality, held on the 25th, the lunar June.
Song meeting on Shibao Mountain is held for three day at the end of the lunar July.
The March street also named “Guanyin Market”, is the grand festival for Bai people in Dali. It is held from the 15th to 20th in lunar March at the foot of Cang Mountain.
Custom: Beihun is a kind of wedding custom prevailing in Bai nationality in Dali, Yunnan. On every crossing or staff gathering places, guest of accompany pile dowry up into two stacks. The bridegroom should carry the bride on the back to circle in the figure of “8”.
Add On: Hmong Nationality
Yi Nationality
Tibetan Nationality
Buyi Nationality
Dong Nationaity
Sophie

