A Feast of Fire! Xichang Torch Festival Carnival Night Thrills 300,000 People

On the evening of July 29th, the highly anticipated Torch Festival Carnival Night event kicked off in Xichang, the capital of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan. Nearly 200,000 local Yi people and tourists lit torches, sharing in a grand celebration of "fire" and "dance."

At 8:18 PM, amidst the cheers of the crowd, 88 small bonfires and 3 large bonfires were simultaneously ignited. As the music played, the dancing flames and lively rhythms instantly ignited the passion of the audience. The entire venue transformed into a sea of songs and dances.

Liangshan Prefecture is the largest Yi ethnic area in China. The Yi people revere fire, believing that the origin and end of life come from fire. Their awe and worship of fire are ingrained in their bloodline. The Torch Festival continues the ancient customs of the Yi ancestors, who used torches to drive away pests, pray for a good harvest, and worship their ancestors. It has been passed down for thousands of years and is known as the "Eastern Carnival Night." It is a traditional festival with a rich ethnic flavor.

In the main venue of the Xichang Torch Festival Carnival Night, which spans about 4.2 kilometers, people, led by dance leaders, held high their torches and began a parade. Viewed from above, the torchbearers formed a long dragon, dancing in the night sky.

The main venue also featured many specialty shops, allowing visitors to experience and taste the unique ethnic culture of the Liangshan Yi people. According to statistics, from July 28th to 29th, Xichang saw over 300,000 participants in the Torch Festival Carnival, and in the first two days of the festival, Xichang received over 750,000 tourists.