the mountain-circling festival is a traditional festival widely celebrated in ganzi tibetan autonomous prefecture in southwest china's sichuan province. it falls on the eighth day of the fourth month on the traditional chinese lunar calendar. it is also known as the bathing buddha festival, with the shining of the buddha thangka being a major rite.
a giant buddha thangka is unveiled at sunrise, a symbol of combining deities and mankind. in addition to the buddha exhibition, the festival also features chanting, praying, trekking and a show with distinct tibetan features, such as the tibetan dance and tibetan opera.
