Initiated in 2002, China Dance Festival is a grand activity of dancing art exchange held in Yunnan Province biennially. It is co-sponsored by China Literature and Art Association and Yunnan Government, and jointly organized by Dancers Association of China, Kunming Municipal Government, and World Expo Garden of Kunming.

China Dance Festival aims at carrying forward Chinese excellent cultural traditions and promoting the prosperity of Chinese dancing art, the development of Yunnan Province as well as the local economic and social development.

Activities of the festival include the appraisal of Water-lily Award, Chinese and foreign dancing performance, dance teaching, seminar, Yunnan folk songs and dances, and dancing art crafts fair. The festival invites visitors from all walks of life at home and abroad.