Torch Festival – Peace LiLy

The air is warm and scented with pine smoke. In the distance, a line of golden lights winds its way down the mountainside, swaying and flickering like a living dragon. Drums beat in a steady rhythm, mingling with laughter and song. Children dash through the night clutching small torches, their faces glowing in the firelight. Elderly women hum old tunes, while young men and women steal glances beneath the shelter of bright yellow oil-paper umbrellas. This is not just a night—it is a living river of fire. You’ve just stepped into the Yi Torch Festival.

Every summer, when the moon of the sixth lunar month reaches its 24th day, the mountains and valleys of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan come alive with a sea of flickering light. This is the Yi Torch Festival, the grandest celebration of the Yi people and one of the most dazzling ethnic festivals in China.

The Yi, along with the Bai, Naxi, Jinuo, Lahu, and other ethnic groups, have celebrated this fiery tradition for centuries. For the Yi, fire is not just a source of warmth—it is a symbol of light, strength, and hope. The Torch Festival is their way of honoring fire, driving away evil, and praying for peace and abundant harvests.

On this special day, towering torches rise high in the center of each village, while every household lights their own smaller torches. As night falls, villagers carry these flames into the fields, circling the crops to symbolically chase away pests and misfortune, leaving behind protection and blessings.

The Torch Festival lasts three magical days and nights, each with its own unique charm.

Day One – Fire Worship
Morning preparations are lively, feasts are prepared, and wine and meat are offered to ancestors. At dusk, villagers gather at a site chosen by the elders. There, a sacred fire is lit using the ancient method of striking stones, and the flame is blessed by a bimo (Yi priest) chanting sacred verses. Then, torches made from mugwort are passed to each household. Children and elders alike carry them to the edges of fields, reenacting the old legend of Ashimo, the heroine who once used fire to drive away destructive insects.

Day Two – Playing with Fire
If Day One is solemn, Day Two is pure joy. Under the glow of the sacred flame, villagers gather for horse races, wrestling matches, bullfights, and singing contests. Young men compete like the legendary hero Atilaba, known for his courage and strength. Young women, dressed in vibrant handmade dresses and carrying delicate butter umbrellas, dance the graceful “Duoluohe” and Dati dances, just as Ashimo once did.
The highlight? A traditional beauty contest where elders select the most handsome man and the most beautiful woman of the year—chosen not only for looks, but also for kindness, bravery, and skill. As the night deepens, couples stroll by the streams and through the mountains, plucking moon lutes and jaw harps, their music and whispers floating into the starry sky.

Day Three – Sending Off the Fire
The final night is the festival’s grand finale. Villagers rush through the darkness carrying blazing torches, eventually gathering them into massive bonfires. Around these roaring flames, they sing, dance, and laugh until the stars fade and dawn arrives.

Beyond the rituals and dances, the Torch Festival is also a season of romance. Young men and women meet, flirt, and sometimes begin lifelong partnerships. According to tradition, a man may “steal” a token—such as a scarf or ornament—from the woman he loves as a sign of affection. For the rest of the night, they sing and dance together, expressing their feelings until sunrise.

In the end, the Torch Festival is more than just a cultural event—it is a living expression of the Yi people’s spirit: their love of life, reverence for nature, devotion to tradition, and unquenchable hope for the future. And as the last embers fade in the early morning light, the warmth of the flames lingers—both in the fields and in the hearts of the people.

If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing thousands of torches glowing like fire dragons weaving through the dark mountains, this is the place to be. The Yi Torch Festival is not only a feast for the eyes but also a journey into the beating heart of a culture that celebrates life in the glow of fire.