With 86 bonfires ignited and tens of thousands of torches held high simultaneously on Hangtian Avenue in Xichang of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, the 2026 Liangshan Yi Torch Festival reached its climax on Saturday night.

Along the 3.2-kilometer street, hundreds of thousands of people from diverse ethnic groups and tourists danced around the bonfires to convey festive blessings.

The torch festival is a traditional celebration of the Yi ethnic group, usually held around the 24th day of the sixth month on the Chinese lunar calendar each year.

According to local authorities, this year's torch festival features a long-running schedule and extensive coverage. Kicked off at Ridudisa Town in Puge County on July 19, a string of distinctive cultural and tourism events have been rolled out successively and will last until late August.

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DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA (AUGUST 8, 2026) (CNS - NO ACCESS CHINESE MAINLAND MEDIA)

1. AERIAL VIEW OF HANGTIAN AVENUE AT TORCH CARNIVAL NIGHT

2. (VARIOUS) TORCHES BEING LIT

3. A PERFORMER LIGHTING THE BONFIRE　

4. PEOPLE LIGHTING TORCHES

5. (VARIOUS) BONFIRE　

6. PEOPLE LIGHTING TORCHES

7. (VARIOUS) PEOPLE GATHERING AROUND THE BONFIRE AND DANCING

8. (SOUNDBITE) EDDIE, TOURIST FROM THE U.S., SAYING:

"I'm 27 years old and this is the first time that I've ever done torch festival. The people are nice. We're having fun. We lit a bunch of fires. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There are thousands of people, probably hundreds of fires. Again, an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you can't make it this year, you've got to come next year. I'll see you there."

++SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++

9. PEOPLE LIGHTING TORCHES

10. PEOPLE TAKING PHOTOS TOGETHER