Yi People’s Torch Festival

Time: June 24th in the Chinese lunar calendar

Location: Lunan Stone Forest County

The traditional Yi People’s Torch Festival is held in Lunan Stone Forest County. During the festival, torches are erected in front of every household, and a pile of faggots several meters high is erected in the center of the square. When night falls and gongs and horns are sounded, people of all ages come forward to ignite the faggot pile. Cheerful flames leap up to the sky, crackling and spluttering all the while. Shouts of joy together with the boom of gongs and drums create a beautiful musical sea of rejoicing.