2026-08-17 09:53
Guangming Daily reporter Li Xiaodong and Zhou Hongshuang
From July 19th to 21st, Puge County lit the "first fire" of this year's Torch Festival; From July 20th to 25th, Butuo County will hold silver jewelry and clothing exhibitions, folk competitions, and torch carnival nights; On August 4-5, Yuexi County held the "Terraced Fields Spark" Torch Show; From August 5th to 12th, Huili City held the Ancient City Light and Shadow Show, Sichuan Yunnan Food Festival, Binhe Road Torch Night Tour... Recently, the Yi Torch Festival has been held in various counties and cities of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. The cool mountains and waters blend harmoniously with the passionate folk customs, vividly depicting the moving scene of 'cool mountains are not cool, passion is like fire'.
The Yi Torch Festival originated from the worship of fire by our ancestors. Every year around the 24th day of the sixth lunar month, when buckwheat is filling and pests are rampant, the masses carry torches to patrol the fields, deworming and praying for abundance, and praying for the safety of humans and animals. Bimo, wearing a Dharma hat, chanted sutras and prayed for blessings. His tribe members held torches high and circled the mountains and fields, welcoming, celebrating, and delivering the fire for three nights without rest. Bullfighting, horse racing, and wrestling took turns, and Duo Le He sang and danced all night long. In 2006, the Yi Torch Festival was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.
This Torch Festival will start on July 19th in Puge County and continue until the end of August. Liangshan Innovation has launched the "6+N" global linkage festival mode, coordinating the differentiated layout and staggered promotion of 17 counties and cities in the whole state. The traditional "one festival and three nights" village ceremony has been extended to a summer carnival spanning more than 40 days, which not only preserves the "original flavor" of cultural roots, but also radiates the heat of fire from the capital Xichang to the vast countryside, elevating the Yi ethnic festival into a cultural feast shared by the whole nation.
On the evening of August 8th, the current Liangshan Yi Torch Festival reached its climax. On the east extension of Aerospace Avenue in Xichang City, 86 bonfires were ignited simultaneously, with tens of thousands of torches instantly raised, and the 3.2-kilometer long street turned into flowing golden dragons. The firelight turned every face red, with songs, cheers, and the crackling sound of torches burning mixed together. Wrapped in the cool evening breeze of 20 ℃, the whole city was boiling.
Come on, give me your hand! "A Yi girl dressed in formal attire smiled and reached out her hand, pulling a tourist into the dance floor. The firelight illuminated her silver jewelry and the faces of the tourists. More and more people rushed in, holding hands and forming concentric circles layer after layer, with the light of torches jumping among the crowd.
When Kong Mingyang, an international student from El Salvador, was pulled into the crowd, he was still a bit at a loss, and after wandering around a few times, he gradually integrated into it. He excitedly told the reporter, "The enthusiasm of Liangshan people makes me feel like I'm not an outsider, but a family member
Originally, I just wanted to join in the fun, but I ended up staying for three days, "said Chengdu tourist Wang Xiaotong, standing on tiptoe with an endless golden dragon in the camera." Jianchang Ancient City, Dashiban Ancient Village, and Qionghai Wetland came one by one, and I couldn't stop taking photos
Recently, the daily revenue of the restaurant has doubled compared to usual, "said the barbecue restaurant owner Jinmei Zangbu as she wiped the sweat off her forehead and grilled meat skewers with a smile." I really wish it was Torch Festival every day! "In the bustling fireworks room," eating barbecue, drinking beer, and watching torches "have become standard experiences for tourists.
During this year's Torch Festival, the occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses in Xichang exceeded 98%, and many homestays were in high demand for one room. To capitalize on this trend, Xichang City has issued 5 million yuan in consumer vouchers, covering scenic spots, homestays, and supermarkets; Within 5 days of arriving in Xichang, tourists can enjoy exclusive discounts for 12 major scenic spots and 61 specialty catering merchants with their tickets or plane tickets, which not only reduces travel costs but also continuously attracts and expands customers for local merchants.
Guangming Daily (August 17, 2026, 4th edition)
