Festivities have kicked-off in southern Yunnan Province for a wet and wild annual festival. The event marks the arrival of spring and the Buddhist new year by drenching each other with water to wish them a good year. CGTN's Grace Shao went to Xi-shuang-banna to soak in the fun.

It may just look like summer fun - but this is the annual water splashing festival. More than thirty thousand people have gathered here in Jinghong City in Yunnan Province, an area that borders Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. Home to the Dai ethnic group, the Dai people are celebrating their new years on this day, by washing away bad luck.

YAN ZHUANGXIANG, LOCAL TOUR GUIDE DAI ETHNIC MINORITY "We use water for our crops our lives and everything. Splashing water to the people means give people happiness. This is the celebration of our Dai New Year. It's not only about water splashing but also about our dancing and singing culture."

The tradition sees the ladies retrieve holy water from the Lancang River, which extends to become the Mekong River across the Chinese border. The holy water is used to bathe the Buddha first and is then splashed around as a form of spreading prosperity. Nowadays the tradition has evolved into something slightly more vicious even more aggressive.

"It's very interesting, I am so happy."

"I am very excited, I want to splash water to everyone."

"At first, I have nothing in my hands, so I snatch one and join them."

The celebrations of the Dai New Year last for three days, and the water splashing festival is the grand finale of the festivities. On the first two days, people get together with family and friends and participate in friendly competitions of dragon boat racing. At night, they write down their new year wishes on paper lanterns and release them along the Lancang River, resulting in this mesmerizing scene, Grace Shao, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province.