Torch Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Langshan

Name	Torch Festival of Yi Ethnic Group in Liangshan
Theme	Get to Know the Culture of Yi
Number	M--003

Photos

Duration	8days
Route	Chengdu—Leshan—Xichang—Lugu Lake—Lijiang
Optimum Travel Time	24^th June—July of the Luna Month
Degree of Difficulty

Main Attractions

The torch festival is the traditional festival shared by Yi, Bai, Naxi, Lahu, Hani, Pumi Ethinic groups. The Yi , Naxi, and Jinuo Ethnic groups celebrate this festival on the 24th , June of the lunar month, and Bai Nationality on 25th, June of the lunar month, Lahu Nationality on 20th, June of lunar year. The festival will last 2-3 days.

Yi ethnic group relates the fire torch with millet sprays. They celebrate this festival to express their wish of bumper harvest. Later, they also celebrate it to drive out the evil spirits of their family so as to guide the safety of their family members and livestock.. They dance, sing, race horse, wrestle or have bonfire night. Up to now, the program in the festival has extended as many as to include social intercourse, date within young people and trade fair. Every year on 24th, June, the Yi nationality would dress in splendid attire to dance or sing. They would hold pageant in massive scale, race horse, wrestle and compete archery and parade in commemoration of their historical heros.

The torch festival is the largest festival that Yi ethnic groups in Liangshan prefecture celebrate, during which people will drink wine, eat luxuriously，offer a sacrifice to their ancestors, and hold some recreation and sports activity. The male will take part in bullfight, goat fight, cockfight, horse racing, wrestling, while the female sing, blow mouth organ and play tunes. In the night, people will hold fire torch walking around their houses and 3 days later, they will parade to the open air. Wherever they go, the sky will be radiant like daytime. After parade, they would gather together to enjoy a bonfire night when they will entertain by dancing, singing, eating, and drinking till sunrise.
This festival is held one time per year in Liangshan prefecture. The main celebrating place is in Puge or Butuo County together with the subsidiary place of the capital city of Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture, Xichang. Most of the beauties in the Beauty Show competition comes from the Meigu(beautiful woman) County.

Itinerary

Chengdu—Leshan—Jinhekou (233km in total)

Altitude: 1000m Accomodation in Jinhekou

Drive for 5 hours. Visit Leshan Giant Buddha and arrive Jinhekou.

Jinhekou—Ganlu—Zhaojue—Xichang(399km in total)

Altitude: 1200m Accomodation in Xichang

Drive for 5-6 hours, visit Yi ethnic residence and go to Xichang.

Xichang

Altitude: 1200m Accomodation in Xichang

Enjoy the Torch Festival programs. Visit Qionghai Park, Culture and History Museum of Yi ethnic group.

Xichang—Butuo(114km in total)

Altitude: 1800m Accomodation in Butuo

Liangshan Torch Festival. Visit Yi local residence.

Butuo—Xichang(114km in total)

Altitude: 1200m Accomodation in Xichang

Back to Xichang, take part in the Torch Festival.

Xichang—Lugu Lake(200km in total)

Altitude: 2500m Accomodation in local residence

Go to Lugu Lake to get to know Mosuo Culture

Lugu Lake

Altitude: 2500m Accomodation in local residence

Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lugu Lake.

Lugu Lake—Lijiang(300km)

Altitude: 3250m Accomodation in Lijiang.

After visiting Lugu Lake, go back to visit Lijiang ancient town.