In southwest China's Yunnan Province, high summer is the time for the Yi ethnic group to celebrate fire. This year, the annual Torch Festival roped in 1,100 drones to create a night spectacle in Weishan Yi and Hui Autonomous County.

At the festival's climax on Saturday evening, designs depicting the ethnic totem images and popular icons mesmerized spectators.

"I've found the show simply spectacular," said one spectator. "I have never seen such a fascinating drone flight performance until this very night. The designs are great, and they’re so lifelike. I was especially impressed by the neon light of a girl playing a lute, which was echoed in the night sky by exactly the same design. It really bowled me over."  

The Torch Festival, also known as Fire Festival, is the biggest summer holiday for the Yi in southwest China. It has been celebrated for centuries in the sixth month of the Yi calendar. It originated as a commemoration of a legendary hero, but has come to involve a wider audience in recent years. 

"The festival today is a marked departure from its traditional version. It’s more open and more willing to involve visitors from the outside. It has successfully blended old customs with the new spirit of our time. In its presentation, we're using high technologies. The festival has become very effective for us in reaching out," said organizer Kang Jinxing.

This year, the celebrations drew more than 100,000 visitors.