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Lijiang, the land of music and dance, possesses various colourful folk customs. The eleven nationalities in the district, Naxi, Yi, Lisu, Pumi, Bai, Dai, Miao, Zhuang, Tibetan, Hui and Han, which are loaded with diverse flavors of the South resemble eleven flowers in blossom.
Tourists here are usually deeply impressed by the diversity of the minorities and their customs in such a limited area. which is a result of the crisscross-like geographical distribution of the eleven nationalities. Costume, marriage, etiquette and dance vary even within the same nationality because of their different locations and branches.
For example, Naxi people in Western Lijiang, believe in the Protection God called Sanduo and observe the celebrations such as "Sanduo Festival". "Offering Sacrifices to Heaven " , " Offering Sacrifices to Ancestors ".The Mosuo people in the East, however. worship the Goddess of Gunma and carryon the matriarchal marriage system called " Azu " .The mountains and water there are all endowed with fascinating female myths. When the ceremonious traditional " Mountain - circling Festival " approaches, Mosuo girls will be dressed up colorfully like fairy maidens from Heaven and beautiful butterflies flying about.
Meanwhile, their close neighbors, the Pumi people, who are separated only by Lugu Lake, adore " Hanhui " . The neighboring Yi people at the Xiaoliang Mountain follow the " Hierarchical Clan Blood Relationship Marriage System " .Their Wedding ceremonies such as " Sprinkling Water to Welcome Bride and Groom " are still being carried on as before in spite of some transmutation in their marriage customs.
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