The smell of damp earth and smoke, the sound of crackling twigs and the lyrical intonations of a shaman-priest's chanting as he reads from his scripture, echoing softly in the cavern he is crouched in. At his feet, a small bonfire smoulders.

Locals will come from neighboring Yi villages to light their torches with this blaze, and carry their flames back to their communities. The cave is a sacred spot, believed to be where the Torch Festival was born. With this religious ritual, the festival begins – it's a colossal commemoration of Yi culture and their worship of fire.

Torch Festival is held around the 24th day of the sixth lunar month every year, usually some time in August. It's a big event, especially in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in the Daliang Mountains of Sichuan Province, southwest China. Liangshan is home to the largest population of the Yi ethnic minority in China, a total numbering around 8.7 million.

Different counties and towns in Liangshan hold their official festivities on different days, but they all have a similar schedule of events. In the daytime, Yi girls parade in circles in their exquisite traditional outfits, chiming silver ornaments and yellow umbrellas; this is followed by horseracing, wrestling, bullfighting and beauty contests. Tens upon thousands of Yi locals swarm to the makeshift arenas on the emerald slopes of Liangshan to watch.

When the sun sets, the spectator stands empty out and the riotous revelry begins. Torches, lanterns and pyres are lit to drive away evil and bring good fortune, and the Daliang Mountains come ablaze. Locals sing and dance the night away. It's a carnival of color and kinship, a celebration of Yi's past, Yi's present, Yi's future, and, of course, a celebration of fire.

"Fiery Tales of the Daliang Mountains" will be aired for the first time on CGTN this Sunday at 7:30 a.m. (Beijing Time), rebroadcast at 4:30 p.m., Monday 2 a.m. and Thursday 1:30 p.m. Don't miss this brand new episode of Travelogue in Liangshan with Min-Zhui Lee!