The population is about 1.261 million. The majority live in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Gengma Dai and Wa Autonomous County and Menglian Dai, Lahu and Wa Autonomous County in Yunnan Province. A few of them reside in other counties nearby. The people use the Dai language which belongs to the Zhuang-Dai branch of the Zhuang-Dong languages of Sino-Tibetan language family. It has two kinds of dialects, Dehong and Xishuangbanna. The Dai language has a phonogram writing system, but there are differences between the scripts used in different areas. The Dai script can be divided into Tai Lue (Xishuangbanna Dai), Tai Nuea (Dehong Dai), Tai Pong, and Tai Dam (Jingping Dai). The four scripts originated from Hindu alphabets. The Dai people live in subtropical region, which leads to their fertile agricultural production. They also grow tropical cash crops such as sugar cane, coffee, sisal, banana and rubber plants. The Dai people mostly believe in Theravada Buddhism, and their festivals are closely associated with their religion, including the “Door Opening Festival”, “Door Closing Festival”, “Water Splashing Festival”, etc. The “Door Closing Festival” and the “Door Opening Festival” are held respectively in the mid-sixth month and the mid-ninth month in the lunar calendar. The “Water Splashing Festival” is the New Year in the Dai calendar. As the most significant festival each year, it usually takes place 10 days after the Ching Ming Festival. On that day, festive activities like water splashing, dragon boat racing and lighting fireworks are held.