The 5th Mulam Yifan Culture and Tourism Festival will be held from Nov 9 to 12 in Luocheng, the only autonomous county of the Mulam ethnic group in China.

This festival is a significant cultural event held in celebration of a bountiful harvest and to pray for a prosperous year. It has also been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage since 2006.

The festival will feature a range of activities, including traditional blessing ceremonies, cultural performances, folk parades, a folk song party, and a half marathon race, which will include 5,000 participants and be divided into a half marathon and a unity race.

The Mulam Yifan Festival, along with the Luocheng Half Marathon, is a cultural trademark of Luocheng and an important sporting event for locals.

This year, the events aim to showcase the county's ideal climate, ecological environment, livable urban space, natural resources, and the unique cultural charm of the Mulam ethnic group to tourists. They will also contribute to the promotion of Luocheng's local identity and boost its economic and social development.

Mulam people pray for a bountiful harvest and a prosperous year during the Yifan Festival celebrations. [Photo/Hechi Daily]