Reisegeschichten · 2.8.2026

Celebrate the Torch Festival in a Nanzhao Royal Clan Village

Over the past two years, we have taken guests to celebrate the Torch Festival in Songhe Village, Eryuan. Together we slaughtered a sheep, and with the whole village, erected a huge torch in the center of the village square. Everyone made their own torches from hemp stalks, and together with the older and younger villagers, we rushed to grab the blessing baba (cakes) from the big torch, passing blessings to each other with fire. Even for me, a native Bai person, these are rare and precious traditional festival experiences. Dali has endless festivals, and I want to experience them more before they fade away. I remember the Torch Festival of my childhood: torches were no longer enough for me. Before the festival, I would tell my dad to prepare a bucket of waste engine oil and diesel, mix them together, and then I would tightly bind cotton and old cloth with rope into a ball (some kids would secretly take cotton from their quilts at home to make it). Finally, I would make an iron wire ball, soak it in the bucket of oil, and secretly take it out every day to look at it, looking forward to having a great time on the day of the Torch Festival. We would compete in the village and by the rice fields to see whose fireball or torch was more impressive. When the torches and fireballs were almost burned out, we would rush home, walk around the potted fruit trees in circles, and say blessing words, hoping they would grow even better in the coming year.

Dali has endless festivals, and I want to experience them more before they fade away.

I remember the Torch Festival of my childhood: torches were no longer enough for me. Before the festival, I would tell my dad to prepare a bucket of waste engine oil and diesel, mix them together, and then I would tightly bind cotton and old cloth with rope into a ball (some kids would secretly take cotton from their quilts at home to make it). Finally, I would make an iron wire ball, soak it in the bucket of oil, and secretly take it out every day to look at it, looking forward to having a great time on the day of the Torch Festival. We would compete in the village and by the rice fields to see whose fireball or torch was more impressive. When the torches and fireballs were almost burned out, we would rush home, walk around the potted fruit trees in circles, and say blessing words, hoping they would grow even better in the coming year.

Torch Festival in Songhe Village in the past two years

A few days ago, I went into the mountains to pick wild mushrooms and accidentally touched the sticky pine resin on a pine tree. When I came down the mountain and went to the market, I saw torches already on sale. During this rainy season with alternating rain and sunshine, the strong scent of pinewood and the sticky feel of pine resin signal that the Torch Festival is approaching.

The annual Torch Festival marks the end of spring plowing and summer sowing. During the gap before waiting for the harvest, local villagers hold various festivals, hoping for a good harvest this year. Returning to the most primitive state and the sacred worship of fire, they light fires to burn away crop pests and bad luck, sprinkle rosin powder on relatives and friends to send blessings, and pray for safety and smoothness.

This year's Torch Festival, we will go to Weishan, the last village of the Nanzhao royal family - Zhuomulang.

Origin

On the nineteenth day of the first lunar month this year, I came to Zhuomulang to participate in the Dage Festival (a traditional singing and dancing festival), met Brother Bi, a local, and even had a meal at his house. I stayed up all night singing and dancing with friends in the village. They were incredibly enthusiastic and genuinely happy. The women wore their own embroidered Yi ethnic clothing in bright reds and greens, shining brilliantly against the dark night and the crowd. After the Dage Festival ended, I still felt unsatisfied and thought to myself at the time: I must come back for the Torch Festival this year; it will surely be even more lively.

Activity Arrangements

Activity date: August 7.

Departure time: 14:00

Return time: around 10:00 (This is a unique festival and a casual activity, so the return time will not be exact, but it will not be very late either)

Driving distance: one way 1 hour 40 minutes

Suitable for: This is an activity we ourselves want to join. It happens only once a year, and it's lucky to catch it on a single day. The Torch Festival in a mountain village is not specially prepared for us, but it will definitely be warm and enthusiastic. However, there may be more uncertainties; it might exceed expectations or might be boring. We hope you are someone who shares the same vibe, is easygoing, not anxious, and loves nature, culture, and wild fun.

Suitable age: 10-60 years old.

Fee includes: activity insurance, round-trip transportation, dinner, torches, rosin powder. The fee is per person, same price for adults and children.

About the activity content:

After arriving at the village, I will take everyone for a walk around the village, then visit Brother Bi, our host for the day. Dinner will be home-style dishes at his house. After dinner, when it gets dark, we will gather at the village center, distribute torches and rosin powder, and then go door to door with the village children and adults. For households that have erected a big torch at their doorstep, which means they have welcomed a new baby this year, we will go to their home, sprinkle rosin powder on the hosts to make flames leap up, and offer our blessings. The hosts will give drinks, snacks, or cigarettes to the guests who come to launch the "fire attack." This is the custom here; don't feel embarrassed, just accept it.

During the activity, some mischievous children in the village will chase each other in a melee. If you are afraid, just stay farther away.

Special notes:

Wear dark-colored long pants and long sleeves, non-slip sports shoes. If you have long hair, tie it up and coil it. You can wear a hat. If you are truly afraid of fire and ashes, you can prepare goggles and a mask.

Do not wear clothes made of chemical fiber fabrics, such as thin sun-protective jackets, and avoid items with tassels or fine fuzz that can easily catch fire.

The place we are going to is a traditional mountain village. No one will smear charcoal ash on your face. We are among the few tourists. The real blessing is sprinkling rosin powder.

If you want to sprinkle rosin powder on others, aim it at their feet and the ground. Just a little rosin powder will burst into a big flame, and a wave of heat will rise instantly. Do not get close to the face.

Frequently asked questions

Will we still go if it rains?

- In my memory, the Torch Festival has rain every year, either heavy or light. No matter how heavy or light the rain, the activity will still continue. The Torch Festival has been around for over a thousand years; it won't be canceled just because of a little rain. Even if knives fall from the sky, we'll still go.

Activity booking: Torch Festival in the Nanzhao Royal Family's Village

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