During the festival, men and women, young and old, all hurry around the village in groups. Young people bring their love keepsakes with them, representing the wish to find a love like that of Chalang and Baimei.

Included in the celebrations are song contests, antiphonal singing of mountain songs, and visiting friends and relatives. They have colorful rice (sticky rice painted in five colors), rice wine, and a kind of typical soup served in the traditional soup pot, which originated from the legend of cooking the tiger killed by Chalang, but now it is replaced with pork or dog meat boiled in a large pot full of spring water. The young men and women, in their festive attire, enjoy themselves with various entertainments, make friends, and exchange keepsakes.

Antiphonal singing is lively and competitive and the participants are noted for singing various love songs. The song contest is often carried on till daybreak, as it is hard to decide the winner. There is also a ceremony worshipping the mountain god, while the Bouyei people sing and dance and pray for a prosperous life.

Nowadays, the song festival has become a tourism attraction, luring more and more overseas and domestic visitors to Chabai Village and presents a good opportunity to learn more about local folklore.

Ⅰ. Legend

The song festival originated from a moving legend about the Bouyei people. Long ago, there was a young lady and a young man living here. The boy's name was Chalang and the girl was Baimei. One day, Baimei was cutting firewood on the hill and met with a tiger. Chalang, a valiant young Bouyei man, showed up and beat the tiger to death, saving the girl's life. They fell in love with each other. The village head was in love with Baimei, and tried to make her his through threats and other tricks, but Baimei refused. The village head then murdered Chalang and raped Baimei, who then set fire to his house and dove into the flames. It is said Baimei and Chalang turned into a pair of celestial cranes and ascended to the heavens.

People named the village Chabai Village to remember them and appointed this day as the festival date. The place where Chalang killed the tiger is used as the singing grounds.