Jinghong, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, southwest China - April 15, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of Water-splashing Festival celebration

Jinghong, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, southwest China - April 15, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wu, tourist (no full name given)(starting with shot1):
"I come from Taitung of Taiwan Province. I'm having such a fun time here. I wish I could come everyday. This is awesome."

Jinghong, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, southwest China - April 15, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Ziluo, tourist (no full name given):
"I'm from Liangshan in Sichuan. Today has been a lot of fun! You could come visit us in July during the Torch Festival, and you can actually play with fire."
4. Various of Water Splashing Festival ritual
5. Aerial shots of people gathering on streets

Jinghong, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, southwest China - April 15, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. Various of people on streets splashing water on each other

Jinghong, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, southwest China - April 15, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Sui Jianfei, head of Jinghong Cultural and Tourism Bureau:
"Overall the tourist volume has significantly increased from previous years. According to our preliminary estimates, between April 11 and 14, tourist visits reached 1.6 million, generating approximately 1.658 billion yuan in total consumption."
8. Aerial shot of Water Splashing Square
9. Various of Water-splashing Festival celebration

The Water-Splashing Festival in southwest China's Yunnan Province has drawn visitors from across the country and beyond, fueling a significant surge in tourism revenue for the region.

The festival, marking the New Year for the Dai people, originated as a spiritual ritual to bring blessings and wash away misfortune. Over time, it has transformed into a major attraction, drawing travelers from across China and beyond.

Celebrations began on Sunday, drawing locals and tourists into the centuries-old traditions of the Dai ethnic group.

On Tuesday, a grand annual water-splashing carnival took place in Jinghong of Yunnan's Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, with water flying through the air and laughter echoing through the streets.

Armed with basins, water bags, and water guns, revelers turned the streets into a playful battleground of goodwill, and even police officers are not exempted.

"I come from Taitung of Taiwan Province. I'm having such a fun time here. I wish I could come everyday. This is awesome," said Wu, a tourist.

"I'm from Liangshan in Sichuan. Today has been a lot of fun! You could come visit us in July during the Torch Festival, and you can actually play with fire," said Ziluo, another tourist.

The festival is also celebrated in some Southeast Asian countries, where it's widely known as Songkran.

Renowned for its tropical landscapes and rich ethnic culture, Xishuangbanna is a top travel destination, and the festival is giving a strong boost to the local tourism sector.

"Overall the tourist volume has significantly increased from previous years. According to our preliminary estimates, between April 11 and 14, tourist visits reached 1.6 million, generating approximately 1.658 billion yuan in total consumption," said Sui Jianfei, head of the Jinghong Cultural and Tourism Bureau.

The local government hopes to elevate the city's profile through the event, aiming to leverage the visa-free transit policy to attract more visitors to Xishuangbanna.