Moni Hei in Cangyuan: the Wa carnival where nobody stays clean
Cangyuan county town
Around the May Day holiday, Cangyuan fills the streets for a Wa carnival: people daub each other's faces with a black herbal paste as a blessing, and there are wooden-drum and hair-swinging dances. In 2026 the main days were May 2–3, inside a month of markets and bullfights; in 2027 expect them around May 1–3. Dates are announced locally each spring.
What locals sayVisitors say nobody leaves clean, so dress for it.
- Time
- 1–2 days · Early May
- In Chinese
- 沧源 司岗里摸你黑狂欢节
Based on what locals and regular visitors share, checked against current sources · Updated September 2026. Details change — check opening times locally.
