In August,

the spotlight of summer festivities

is about to shine.

In Yunnan, the celebration of

the Torch Festival varies in different regions,

so where should we go this year?

Under the theme of "Improving the city with each festival," Kunming will host a series of Torch Festival celebration events. During the festival, ethnic song and dance performances, band concerts, music festivals, and other activities will turn the entire city of Kunming into a joyful ocean.

Joyful Yunnan Nationalities Village

If you want to experience the Torch Festival nearby,

You can visit Yunnan Nationalities Village 

for a comprehensive experience.

The customs and traditions of 

various ethnic minorities in Yunnan

are indeed "quite exciting."

Date: August 9th to 13th

Location: Yunnan Nationalities Village

During this period, Yunnan Nationalities Village will hold various activities including Torch Welcoming Parade in Traditional Costumes, Torch Carnival and Joyful Dancing, Music and Beer with Ethnic Cuisine, Colorful Intangible Cultural Heritage Performance of Yi Mountain Songs and Dances, and The Call of the Plateau Performance, among others.

Various Events in Stone Forest

When it comes to the "torch leader" 

of Kunming's Torch Festival,

it is none other than the magnificent Stone Forest.

Every year during the Torch Festival,

the Stone Forest is undoubtedly

the liveliest place in the Kunming area.

In 2023, the Stone Forest will host

the China Stone Forest International Torch Festival,

featuring a rich and colorful series of events.

Missing it means waiting for another year.

Torch Sending and Fetching Ceremony

Date: August 9th, 7:00-10:00

Location: Intangible Cultural Heritage Training Center, Guishan Forest Park, Shilin County

Traditional Wrestling Competition

Date: August 10th, 14:00-18:00

Location: Changhu Ethnic Cultural and Sports Activity Field

Yunnan Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition

Date: August 9th to 12th, daily from 10:00 to 24:00

Location: Front Square of Shilin County Ethnic Sports Center

Passionate Torch Night and Dasanxian Celebration

Date: August 10th, 20:30-24:00

Location: Shilin Grand Hotel Roundabout, Shuanglong Square, Youth Activity Center, Wancheng Ashima Tourism Town, and County Sports Center

"Charming Shilin" Main Stage

Date: August 9th to August 13th

Location: Next to Shilin County Ethnic Cultural and Sports Center (Free artistic performances for tourists and residents every day from 15:30 to 17:00 and 20:30 to 21:30)

"Love in Shilin" Music Festival

Date: August 10th, 20:00-21:30; August 11th, 20:00-21:30

Location: Shilin County Ethnic Sports Stadium (On August 10th, a star-studded concert will be held; On August 11th, a music festival featuring renowned bands will offer a musical feast.)

"Taste of Shilin" Shopping and Food Festival

Date: August 5th to August 13th

Location: Next to Shilin Culture and Sports Center Gymnasium

Bull King Championship

Date: August 11th to August 12th

Location: Changhu Ethnic Cultural and Sports Activity Field

To ensure a delightful experience for visitors, 

Shilin County has introduced 

a series of preferential policies.

From June 9th to August 31st, 2023, the Shilin Scenic Area offers free admission for high school students taking the college entrance examination. Nationwide high school students can enjoy free access to the Shilin Scenic Area by presenting their original 2023 college entrance examination admission ticket and valid ID card.

During the Torch Festival, parking facilities within the administrative and corporate areas of Shilin County, as well as certain residential areas, will be free of charge for both official and privately-owned vehicles. Minor traffic violations in relation to road regulations will receive a first-time leniency.

Additionally, visitors to the Shilin Scenic Area who use the Amap taxi-hailing service and choose "Shilin Scenic Area" or "Shilin" as the pick-up or drop-off location can enjoy a maximum discount of 20 yuan. Approximately 6,000 coupons will be available for subsidy each day, with a total subsidy amount of approximately 1 million yuan.

The Flavors of Luquan

The Torch Festival in Yunnan,

Luquan must have its own fame.

Luquan, known as the land of 

"Three Waters and One River, 

with Yi songs and Miao dances."

During the Torch Festival,

in addition to bullfighting, 

fighting competitions, 

and basketball matches,

delicious dishes like hot pots and 

wild mushrooms will also bring you 

a unique culinary experience.

Yunnan·Luquan "Jinsha Torch, Luowu Joyful Songs"  Torch Festival 

Date: July 28th to August 13th

Location: Main venue in Luquan County Town, with sub-venues at Sayingpan Town, Zhuanlong Town, and Yunlong Township

From July 28th to 30th, there will be a gathering of Luquan wild mushrooms in Fengjia Ancient Town.

From August 3rd to 13th, there will be a traditional lamb hot pot feast.

On August 10th, there will be a competition of folk songs, love songs, and drinking songs.

On August 10th to 11th, there will be a free combat championship held at the County Sports Center (next to Sanxi Hot Spring Town).

From August 8th to 13th, a special agricultural product exhibition and sales fair will be held at the county's Ethnic Cultural Square. During this event, there will also be basketball games, five-a-side football matches, long-distance running races, an intangible cultural heritage exhibition, an investment promotion conference with signing ceremony, as well as a ceremony to obtain the holy fire and holy water.

On August 10th, the Bull King Championship will be held at Tanglangqing Ethnic Cultural Valley in Cuihua Town.

From July 29th to 31st, the Sayingpan sub-venue will host 12 activities such as bullfighting, sheep fighting, folk song competitions, and short video contests. 

From July 31st to August 3rd, the Yunlong Township sub-venue will host more than 10 characteristic activities including bullfighting, rural camping, and mushroom festival. 

From August 5th to 11th, the Zhuanlong Town sub-venue will host activities such as the "Painting a New Look for the Countryside, Painting the Beauty of Zhuanlong" calligraphy and painting exhibition, the "Yidi" Torch Festival at Jiaozi Mountain, and a fish-catching competition.

Joyful Summer at the World Horti-expo Garden

Dancing flames

and bursting notes,

ignite the passion of summer nights.

This is a lively collision between 

ethnic culture and electronic music.

Come to the World Horti-expo Garden

and experience this torch carnival feast.

Date: August 10th to 13th

Location: Kunming World Horti-expo Garden

Ethnic song and dance performances, fire dancing, DJ music carnival, "Park BA" basketball game... If you don't want to go too far, then come to the World Horti-expo Garden.

Encounter the Phoenix in Anning

In Longdong Village,

listen to the stories of the Red Revolution,

experience the charm of the Yi ethnic culture,

you can also visit Yong'an Sub-district,

where you can participate in 

a series of Torch Festival activities.

Who knows,

you might even encounter the mythical fire phoenix.

Date: August 10th

Location: Longdong Village

14:00-16:00: Visit Siyuan Road and Fenjin Road;

14:00-17:30: Visit Anning Revolutionary History Education Exhibition Hall and watch the red film "The Smoke of the Eight Flames";

14:00-17:30: Experience Red Army costumes, Yi ethnic costumes, and Yi ethnic buckwheat cakes;

17:30: Taste Yi ethnic cuisine;

20:00: Torch Festival bonfire evening party with thousands of people.

The event also provides space for vendors to set up stalls.

Furthermore, throughout August, there will be a series of immersive interactive experiences in Yong'an Sub-district, Anning. Among them, there will be a grand Torch Festival celebration event where you will once again witness the soaring of the phoenix that rises from the fire.

Click here to view Chinese report

(Editors: Rachel, Christine)