On the evening of August 10th, 2023, the 8th Liangshan Yi Torch Festivalwasgrandly inaugurated in Xichang City, Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province.The long-awaited whole-prefecture Yi Torch Festival restarted in Liangshan after an 8-year hiatus.

That evening, at the Torch Square, colorful fireworks illuminated the night sky, creating a dazzling and mesmerizing display of lights. In the three torch night venues at Xichang City's Chunqi Avenue, Sihou Township, and Hainan Street's Echigeze Village, torches were ignited simultaneously.

During the opening ceremony, Yi people dressed in splendid traditional Yi attire took the stage. The stage adorned with patterns representing fire was resplendent with starlight, and joy filled the air. The beating of drums resounded, creating a stirring impact. The powerful recitation of ancient Yi poems carried the audience into the depths of history, setting the stage for the theme performance.

The six children from Liangshan who sang the anthem at the opening ceremony of the Chengdu University Gamesperformed a heartfelt rendition of the song "Village" with their peers at the Torch Festival's opening ceremony.

At 8:30 PM in Chunqi Avenue of Xichang City's urban area, as the roaring bonfires were lit, the visitors cheered loudly, turning the scene into a sea of joy. Music filled the air, and people either hand in hand circled the bonfires in traditional dances or swirled lit torches, fully immersing themselves in the joy of the Torch Festival.

"This is my first time attending the Torch Festival, and the experience is really different. The atmosphere on-site is fantastic, and the performances are splendid," said Ms. Chen and her family from Chengdu, who attended the Liangshan Torch Festival for the first time, deeply moved by the festive ambiance.

The Yi ethnic group worships fire, and the Yi Torch Festival is listed as one of the first batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage representative works. The Torch Festival is one of the most important traditional festivals of the Yi people, deeply rooted in their culture. It carries forward the ancient folk customs of using torches to drive away pests, pray for a good harvest, and honor ancestors, with a history of over a thousand years. During the Torch Festival, giant torches are lit, and celebrations are held through singing and dancing.

In 1984, Liangshan hosted the first "Torch Festival" material exchange conference, attracting over 60,000 visitors. Since then, Liangshan has held annual "Torch Festival" material exchange conferences. In 1994, based on the Yi fire culture, Liangshan Prefecture held the first China Liangshan Yi International Torch Festival, aiming to showcase the Yi culture to the world. Subsequently, the reputation of Liangshan Yi Torch Festival grew.

This year's Torch Festival includesthe opening ceremony and torch night, Yi traditional beauty pageant, square dance performances, and excellent theatrical presentations. The main venue is Xichang, covering the entire prefecture, making it the longest-lasting and most widely-covered Torch Festival ever held. In this August, the 17 counties and cities of Liangshan Prefecture jointly present a splendid torch feast for visitors from all directions.