Yao Panwang Festival

瑶族盘王节

View on map
MusicHezhou/Jinxiu
DatesDates TBA · Usually NovemberCheck locally before booking
DurationAutumnEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsThe festival's ritual structure is fixed and
Language["zh-Hans"]Currency: CNY
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Yao Panwang Festival in Hezhou/Jinxiu

The Panwang Festival, held on the sixteenth day of the tenth lunar month, is the Yao ethnic group's most important observance, honouring mythological ancestor Pan Hu. Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County in Guangxi, home to the most complete preservation of Yao culture in China, stages one of the grandest editions at Yaodu Square, drawing Yao representatives from Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.

The Panwang Festival is the most important date on the Yao ethnic calendar, held on the sixteenth day of the tenth lunar month - typically mid- to late November - to honour Pan Hu, also called Panwang or King Pan, the mythological ancestor claimed by Yao communities across southern China.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's ritual structure is fixed and documented: four priests and four assistants oversee an altar ceremony that opens with the sung Chorus of Panwang King, an epic recounting Yao history and legend, alongside the Long Drum Dance, a performance tradition more than two thousand years old in its own right

02

The mystery stays covered

Jinxiu's status as China's first-established Yao autonomous county, home to five distinct Yao branches, gives this staging a depth of cultural continuity uncommon even among other Yao communities

03

The city starts moving

National intangible cultural heritage listing in 2006 and attendance by Yao representatives from Vietnam, Laos and Thailand mark it as a transnational ethnic gathering rather than a purely local county event

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The sung Chorus of Panwang King

Water and renewal

Living ritual

an epic recounting Yao history

The sacred route

Living ritual

migration and legend

The local code

Living ritual

and the Long Drum Dance

Tradition 5

Living ritual

a performance tradition over two thousand years old

Tradition 6

Living ritual

are both documented and central to the ceremony

Tradition 7

Living ritual

the ritual itself follows a fixed procedure overseen by four priests and four assistants

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually November

Getting around

For Yao Panwang Festival, plan transport around the exact Hezhou/Jinxiu venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Modest, respectful clothing appropriate for a ritual ceremony rather than a street party; warm layers for cool late-November evenings in Jinxiu's mountain setting, since outdoor ceremonial...

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

For Yao Panwang Festival, stay near the part of Hezhou/Jinxiu you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

["zh-Hans"] · CNY

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map31.22 N, 121.46 EOpen in Google Maps

Hezhou/Jinxiu, Guangxi, China

Nearest airportWUZ — Wuzhou Xijiang
TransportFor Yao Panwang Festival, plan transport around the exact Hezhou/Jinxiu venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Yao Panwang Festival, stay near the part of Hezhou/Jinxiu you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Hezhou/Jinxiu via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Hezhou/Jinxiu, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for November.Compare faresFestival gearModest, respectful clothing appropriate for a ritual ceremony rather than a street party; warm layers for cool late-November evenings in Jinxiu's mountain setting, since outdoor ceremonial segments run long.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for China and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Yao Panwang Festival?

Yao Panwang Festival is listed for November · Autumn. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Yao Panwang Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Hezhou/Jinxiu, China. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Autumn is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Hezhou/Jinxiu, Guangxi, China

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually November
Source statusNeeds editorial review
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