The second “Tossing Bags Carnival” will be launched in Jiangcheng for the purpose of “building a beautiful and harmonious life together with friends in the neighboring countries” on Dec 9.

The carnival is a joint sponsorship from the governments of China, Laos and Vietnam; official delegations from these countries will attend the ceremony. Local governments and relevant departments in Yunnan province will take charge of the specific organizing jobs.

The Organizing committee has invited 100 young men and women from Laos and Vietnam to participate in the Tossing Bags Carnival. Bags full of buckwheat husks are regarded as a love token, and the tossing bags festival is the Valentine’s Day of Jiangcheng.

On that day, young men and women, especially lovers, will dress in costumes and go to a certain field to toss bags to each other. Love and affection will be enhanced during the tossing process.

The first activity of the carnival will be the welcome dinner — the ancient feast of solidarity — the traditional feast of Hani ethnic group. The banquet consists of the most typical dishes from the three countries cooked with fresh ingredients.

The most exciting participatory activity is “the competition of painting on cattle”. In this traditional activity, artists will paint beautiful patterns with brushes on a cattle’s body to express rich imagination on cattle and the comprehension toward the cultures of the three countries.

What’s more, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between China and Laos. According to Mr Yang Lin, the deputy mayor of Pu-reh city, to commemorate the 50th anniversary, Jiangcheng County will make itself the forefront of the opening up of southwest Yunnan.