China’s Torch Festival: Head to the Greater Liangshan for the Most Fiery Celebration
In southwest China, every year on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month, as night falls, torch after torch is lit, bathing the mountains, villages, and fields in a fiery red glow. This is the Yi people’s grandest festival—the Torch Festival, a millennia-old celebration of fire, life, and heritage.
1. Origin of the Festival
The origins of the Torch Festival are varied, but the most widely told story among the Yi people is this one.
A long, long time ago, the gods sent a mighty warrior to the human world to collect heavy and unfair taxes, which enraged the Yi hero Atibaba. The two then agreed to settle their conflict with a wrestling duel, and in the end, Atibaba defeated and killed the mighty warrior. The gods were furious and unleashed a vast swarm of locusts and pests to devour all the crops on Earth. Atibaba led the people to light pine-branch torches on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month (Chinese festivals follow the lunar calendar) to drive away pests and protect the crops. Later, to honor this hero, people designated this day as the Torch Festival, while also praying for a bountiful harvest and safety for both people and livestock.
2. Three Days of Festive Revelry
The Torch Festival usually lasts three days, with each day featuring its own unique theme and rituals.
Day 1: Welcoming the Fire – Inviting the Fire God Down the Mountain
The first day is called “Welcoming the Fire.” In the early morning, the elders of the village lead the people to the sacred fire altar on the mountaintop, where, using the oldest method—striking wood to create fire—they light the first sacred torch. The sacred fire, also called the fire seed, is a source of good fortune and hope, and it is carefully protected as it is brought back to the village.
Once back in the village, every household uses this sacred fire to light their own hearths (referring to the stove). People slaughter cattle and sheep, prepare lavish feasts, and offer sacrifices to their ancestors and deities. In the evening, children run and play carrying small torches, as the entire village is immersed in a sacred and warm atmosphere.
Day 2: Praising the Fire – The Height of the Festivities
The second day is the liveliest and most joyful of the Torch Festival, known as “Praising the Fire.”
During the day, men, women, and children dressed in festive attire gather from all directions in the open squares to join in the celebrations. Bullfighting is the absolute highlight of the day—strong bulls clash one-on-one, vying for the title of Bull King, while the cheering spectators outside roar like thunder. Traditional competitions such as horse racing, sheep fighting, and cockfighting are also held in succession, showcasing the bold and spirited character of the Yi people.
The young people, in particular, never miss this day.The young women wear their most exquisite pleated skirts and adorn themselves with sparkling silver jewelry; The young men, meanwhile, tighten their belts and step onto the wrestling arena, using strength and skill to capture the attention of the young women.
As night falls, the festivities begin to reach their peak. People raise their torches high and parade through the fields, mountain paths, and village lanes, forming flowing “fire dragons” with the flames. Afterward, people gather their torches in the center of the square, stacking them into a massive bonfire. Thousands of people join hands to form a huge circle and begin dancing. Songs and laughter intertwine, as if the entire mountains and fields are boiling with energy. This is a night belonging to the Torch Festival—a celebration that is both the most primal and the most passionate of the Yi people.
Day 3: Sending Off the Fire – Praying for a Bountiful Harvest in the Coming Year
The third day marks the conclusion of the Torch Festival, when people bid farewell to the Fire God, a ritual known as “Sending Off the Fire.” Every household lights their torches once more, raising them high as they walk out of the village, finally gathering the torches together to form a spectacular “Torch Tower.” People gather around the Torch Tower to pray, asking the Fire God to bless them with favorable weather, a bountiful harvest, and thriving families in the coming year.
As the torches gradually burn out, the three-day festival comes to an end.
3. The Modern Legacy of the Torch Festival
Every year during the Torch Festival, Yi people scattered across different regions return to their hometowns, raising torches like their ancestors and reaffirming their identity and sense of belonging in the glow of the flames. At this moment, the Torch Festival is no longer just a memory of home and childhood—it becomes an instinctive act of reconnecting with one’s roots.
Today, the Torch Festival is no longer just a traditional Yi celebration; it has also become a cultural feast that attracts countless visitors. In 2006, the Torch Festival was officially included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage listings.
4. Core Regions Where the Yi Torch Festival Is Celebrated
| Region | Best Locations | Start Date | Duration | Regional Features |
| Liangshan, Sichuan | Sections 5–7 of Aerospace Avenue in Xichang City, and Torch Square | 24th day of the 6th lunar month | 3 days | The former is the main venue for the Torch Festival’s night of revelry, with an activity area about 4.8 kilometers long, featuring 88 bonfires and showcasing a spectacular celebration for tens of thousands of people. Torch Square is a landmark plaza in the center of Xichang City, where 56 giant torch-shaped pillars stand tall. During the Torch Festival, it hosts traditional competitions and cultural activities. |
| Chuxiong, Yunnan | October Solar Calendar Cultural Park in Chuxiong City, and Yi Ancient Town | 24th day of the 6th lunar month | 3–5 days | The former is the main venue of the Torch Festival and the site of the grand fire worship ceremony, where the most solemn fire-lighting and fire-rituals take place. Yi Ancient Town is a national 4A-level scenic area, open all day with free admission. In the evening, there are bonfire parties and performances of Love Song of the Yi Homeland, making it the best place for visitors to experience Yi culture. |
5. Conclusion
The Torch Festival is a dialogue with fire and a tribute by the Yi people to their ancestors. When tens of thousands of torches light up the night sky, when distant songs echo through the valleys, and when strangers join hands to dance around the bonfire—you realize that this is not just a festival of one people; it is humanity’s most primal and pure celebration of light, life, and nature.
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