The Dai represent the main ethnic minority in southern Yunnan’s Xishuangbanna region. Naturally the word Dai suggests some relation to the neighboring Thai people, but the distinction of exactly who is Thai or Dai has become muddled over the centuries as Dai people now exist in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar as well as other border regions of southern Yunnan. The famous Water Splashing Festival marks the Dai New Year in mid-April. The significance of the holiday is to literally wash away the sins and sorrow of the past year and usher in the optimism and happiness of the forthcoming year. The holiday is marked by huge markets, dragon boat races, fireworks and naturally crowds of participants hosing and dumping water on each other in the streets. Guests with cameras will want to be especially careful!

The Dai language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family, and it is quite common to meet children or elders who cannot speak Mandarin Chinese at all. The attractive Dai script can be seen on signs throughout Xishuangbanna. The Dai are devout practitioners of Buddhism, and traditionally all boys are expected to receive a proper education in the monastery. Dai temples are known as Miansi and come in many different forms. Some feature octagonal layouts while others feature colorful and dramatic roofs. Their lush tropical homeland also contributes to an appetizing range of cuisine which incorporates sweet fruits, mint, and many other locally grown items into stir fried dishes. Both bamboo rice and sticky pineapple rice are local favorites.