About the source of Nadun, an interesting legend still spreads among the people of the Tu nationality: long long ago, there was a carpenter of the Tu nationality; he was summoned by the king to construct a palace because of his outstanding technology and great fame. After the magnificent palace was finished, the king unexpectedly ordered to execute all the craftsmen, including the carpenter of the Tu nationality, because he wanted to solely enjoy all good things in the world.

The carpenter tried to flee back to hometown, and assembled the crowd and started an uprising. The king assigned the army to suppress them. The village people that were surrounded completely by the official army would get drowned. At the critical juncture, the carpenter suddenly thought out a good stratagem, and ordered all the people not to be flurried. They beat the drums and gongs, and said that they were holding the activities of celebrating harvest, and carried the war flags and painted weapons on their shoulders to the temples in the village. The official army found that all the people were calm and unhurried, and had no the sign of rebellion, so they withdrew the troops and returned back. To memorize this quick-witted and brave carpenter, the people began to hold the similar activities every year after that, and it was passed down as a custom and developed to the present Nadun.

"Nadun" is the transliteration of the Tu nationality's language, and means "play", "entertainment" and "game", etc.

Huishou: the participant of Nadun

Bayi’er: pleasant

Mani Wurang: Buddhist holy land

Zaihang: beautiful

Sanchuan: in narrow sense, it means three places, including Zhaomuchuan, Zhongchuan, Xiakou; in broad sense, it means Guanting, Zhongchuan, Qianhe, Manping, Xing’er and Gangou.

Baogai: long narrow flag

Fala: the embodiment of God