Yunnan Celebrates May Day with Vibrant Cultural and Floral Tourism Activities
Kunming, China – May 1, 2025 – Yunnan Province welcomed the May Day holiday with a series of colorful cultural events and tourism promotions, highlighting its rich ethnic heritage and floral attractions. From traditional folk performances to upgraded floral-themed high-speed rail services, the region showcased its unique charm to domestic and international visitors.
Cultural Festivities Across Yunnan
Ethnic Celebrations in Kunming
In Kunming, the Blue Jacaranda Cultural Tourism Festival kicked off with the theme "Kunming’s Romance, Yunnan’s Coffee, and the World’s Intangible Heritage. "The event featured creative marketplaces offering floral-inspired cuisine, art experiences, and international cultural exchanges. For the first time, the festival expanded to include Nanping Street and Southeast Asian-themed block, creating a "one-core, two-wings" layout to enhance visitor engagement (Baidu, 2025a).
Meanwhile, Yunnan Ethnic Village hosted the Bai ethnic group’s traditional "Raosanling" folk cultural festival, running until May 5th. It allows tourists to immerse themselves in the rich and colorful customs and dances of various ethnic groups in Yunnan (Baidu, 2025a).
Sports and Adventure in Dehong
Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture held its first Outdoor Sports Festival in Yingjiang County, attracting over 2,100 athletes and enthusiasts. Events included trail running, beach volleyball, and motocross races. The festival also featured ethnic sports, local agriculture, and jade products, promoting a "sports + tourism" model to boost rural revitalization (Baidu, 2025a).
Music and Tradition in Funing and Longjiang
Funing County’s "Longduan · Poya Love Songs" cultural tourism event blended folk music, intangible heritage performances, and culinary delights. The celebration highlighted Zhuang ethnic culture, offering a platform for cross-border cultural exchanges (Baidu, 2025a).
In Longjiang Township, the 2nd Tea-Picking Festival combined farming culture with tourism, featuring tea-making competitions and a fun run. The event aimed to preserve agricultural traditions while supporting local economic growth (Baidu, 2025a).
Floral Tourism Takes Center Stage with Upgraded High-Speed Rail
“Blossom Journey” Themed Train Upgrades
On May 1st , the G1752 "Floral Yunnan" high-speed train departed from Kunming South Station, offering passengers an immersive floral experience. The upgraded service included:
- Four themed zones at Kunming Station, featuring cross-border travel packages for the China-Laos Railway and "Yunnan Secret" routes to Lijiang and Xishuangbanna (Baidu, 2025b).
- A floral café serving rose-infused coffee and local pastries.
- Onboard flower displays and sales, allowing travelers to purchase fresh blooms and souvenirs like preserved flowers and rose cakes.
The train’s exterior was adorned with a "Blooming Seasons, Charming Yunnan" mural, turning it into a moving piece of art across five provinces (Baidu, 2025b).
Cross-Province Travel Packages
China Railway Kunming Group introduced multi-destination itineraries, such as the "Charming Lu Island Six-Day Tour," linking Xiamen’s Gulangyu Island with Yunnan’s Luoping rapeseed flower fields. With Kunming’s high-speed rail network now connecting to major cities in 3-6 hours, the initiative aims to boost interprovincial tourism (Baidu, 2025b).
Economic Impact and Visitor Growth
Authorities estimate that Yunnan’s rail network will serve over 3.3 million passengers during the holiday, a 5% increase year-on-year(Baidu, 2025b). The integration of cultural, sports, and floral tourism has strengthened Yunnan’s reputation as a top domestic and international destination.
The "May Day" celebration activities in Yunnan Province have successfully integrated tradition and innovation, ranging from performances to high-speed rail tourism. These activities not only enriched the tourists' experiences but also promoted the local economy's development through cultural protection and sustainable tourism.
In this context, the IFEX China- Kunming International Flowers and Plants Expo (shorted as IFEX China) is of great significance. As an important event in the flower industry, IFEX China brings together high - quality flower enterprises, cutting - edge flower cultivation technologies, and innovative flower products. Here, industry insiders can communicate face - to - face with global flower suppliers, establish broader cooperative relationships, understand the latest industry trends, and grasp the market development direction. They can also admire various rare flowers and gain creative inspiration. Whether you are a flower cultivation enterprise, a distributor, a scientific researcher in the flower industry, or a flower art enthusiast, you can gain a lot from the IFEX China - Kunming International Flowers and Plants Expo.
September 19-21, 2025, Kunming, China, we sincerely invite all flower industry insiders to actively participate in the IFEX China- Kunming International Flowers and Plants Expo!
For more information about visiting or exhibiting, please contact [email protected], +86-10-5933 9349.
References
1. Baidu. (2025a). [云南：多彩活动庆"五一" 乐享假日好时光] [Yunnan: Colorful activities celebrate May Day, enjoying the holiday]. Retrieved from [https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1830965997993858163](https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1830965997993858163)
2. Baidu. (2025b). [昆明往返厦门鲜花高铁再升级 助力五一畅游七彩云南] [Kunming-Xiamen flower high-speed train upgrades again, boosting May Day travel in colorful Yunnan]. Retrieved from [https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1831052053745253474](https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1831052053745253474)