Xichang Torch Festival: Yi ethnic group celebrates fire festival with style

World
Europe

It's one of the brightest and hottest festivals across southwestern China. And for one of the area's ethnic groups, it's the most sacred occasion of the year. The Torch Festival usually takes place on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month each year. CGTN's Wei Lynn Tang brings us more from the festival.

A festival in which fire takes centre stage. And probably the only time and place where you are allowed to play with it!

WEI LYNN TANG XICHANG, SICHUAN PROVINCE "The annual Torch Festival is the biggest and grandest festival of the Yi people, one of China's 56 ethnic groups. For three days and three nights, men and women of all ages carry flaming torches and parade the villages and fields."

Families also light up torches in front of their homes. The Yi people love and worship fire. They believe fire has the power to ward off evil spirits, kill pests, and therefore ensure good harvests for their crops.

HAILAI LONGJIA LOCAL YI "Fire can give us good luck and maybe good harvest. Just like my clothes. It means red and it means harvest, it means energy, passion and all kinds of positive things."

FU XINDI LOCAL YI "I regard it as a great chance to get together with my family. Just like the Mid-autumn festival to Han people, and Thanksgiving day for Americans. So it's really important to me."

WEI LYNN TANG XICHANG, SICHUAN PROVINCE "In the next two days, there will be a slew of activities: from wrestling to bull and chicken fighting to even beauty pageants."

The vibe here is all good, and you never know, you might just make a new friend, or, as what the festival is historically known for – you may perhaps even meet your future soul mate here. WLT, Xichang, in Sichuan province.