XICHANG, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 August 2026 – At 8 p.m. local time on August 8, along the eastern extension of Hangtian Avenue in Xichang City, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, China, 86 bonfires were lit, and tens of thousands of torches were raised in unison, turning the 3.2-kilometer-long street instantly into an ocean of joy. The lively Yi ethnic music set the 300,000-strong crowd ablaze with excitement at the scene, as people of all ages joined hands, performed traditional Yi folk dances around the bonfires, and revelled in the fiery carnival.
That night’s carnival was the centerpiece of the 2026 Liangshan Yi Torch Festival and marked the climax of the entire celebration. This year’s edition featured 98 distinctive cultural tourism events held simultaneously across all 17 counties and cities of Liangshan, creating a spectacular midsummer celebration.
On July 19, Puge County, serving as the “first stop” of the 2026 Liangshan Yi Torch Festival’s cultural tourism program, presented the traditional fire-lighting ceremony in its entirety alongside folk performances that offered visitors an authentic glimpse into the rich heritage of Yi culture. The celebrations then continued in Butuo County, Yuexi County, Huidong County, Huili City, and Dechang County, among others, featuring traditional costume showcases, intangible cultural heritage workshops, Yi ethnic music days, and other cultural tourism activities. The events will run through the end of August.
Liangshan Prefecture is home to the largest Yi ethnic community in China. Among the many traditional festivals of the Yi people, the Torch Festival stands out as the grandest, richest, and most vibrant celebration, drawing the largest crowds and showcasing the most distinctive Yi traditions.
During the height of summer, Liangshan enjoys a pleasant temperature averaging around 20°C. The prefecture is home to 20 ICH items at the national level and boasts 81 officially rated tourist attractions, including Qionghai Lake–Lushan Mountain, Lugu Lake, and Luoji Mountain. Here, breathtaking natural landscapes blend harmoniously with the profound cultural heritage of the Yi people. During the 2026 Spring Festival, May Day, and Dragon Boat Festival holidays, Liangshan recorded a year-on-year growth of over 10% in both tourist arrivals and total tourism consumption.
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