Torch Festival: A Blazing Spectacle of Flames and Festivity in SW China

Behold the breathtaking display of fire and celebration in southwest China!

The Torch Festival is a major celebration among the Yi, Bai, and several other ethnic groups in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan. While the festival dates vary among different ethnic groups, it is generally observed on the 20th day of the sixth month in the Chinese lunar calendar.

This year, the festival falls on July 29, with celebrations spanning from July to August. In this region, the traditional worship of fire has existed for thousands of years, rooted in the belief that fire can eliminate disasters and pests while bringing luck and joy. Hundreds of thousands of tourists participated in the celebrations this year.