Raosanling in Dali, China

Raosanling is an occasion for local Bai people in rural areas of Dali to pay homage to three temples one by one on foot, and for travellers to witness in person the region’s religious diversity and unrestrained secular celebrations. The festival usually lasts three days, starting on the 23rd day of the 4th lunar month, when pilgrims of a village will set out in a group led by two elders -one holding a willow branch, the other a cow’s tail- to visit Chongsheng Temple (Chongsheng Si, for Buddha), Qingdong Benzhu Temple (Qingdong Benzhu Miao, for local protective deity) and Erhai Temple (Ershui Shenci, for the lake god) in succession.
These pilgrims may break into songs and dances any minute during a roadside break, an interesting scene for visitors to watch.

Photo and cover photo credit by 施怀基/视觉中国