A small plane from Kunming carried us over the mountaintops and set us down in Chinghung. It covers an area of 25,000 square kilometers, fifty-five percent of which is moutain forests. Thirty percent of its 620,000 population are Tais, but there are also other national minorities who live scattered mainly in the mountains.

    We arrived just in time to join in their Water Splashing Festival. It is celebrated by all the minority people, as well as by the Hans who have settled down there. The festival lasts for three days and marks the Tai New Year. We went to a village production team of a Tai commune. All gathered in a large open square, with small basins of water in their hands.

    Then the dancing began. Six young men wove through the crowd in a large circle, dancing gracefully while beating their drums.

    Everybody joined in, the Han and foreigh visitors alike. Villagers splashed cadres and local army men, who laughingly returned the compliment. Water flew madly from all sides. In a short while we were all wet from head to foot. I can't remember whether I had a much happier time.

    Afterwards, we walked down the village street, where they were having market day, as they do on every Sunday. The shops were crowded with beautifully dressed minority people shopping. Outside, on both sides of the street, village women sat selling vegetables they had grown in their own gardens.