පසුගියදා චීනයේ සිචුආන් පළාතට එරට පුරා හතරදිග්බාගයෙන්ම ජනතාව එක්රැස් වන්නට වුණා.

Xichang Torch Festival attracts around 100,000 visitors

The Torch Festival of the Yi ethnic group, together with folklore performances and a football game, attracted around 100,000 visitors from across China to Xichang City of southwest China's Sichuan Province on Monday night.

Ninety-one bonfires, stretching for over four kilometers, were lit in Xichang, including three huge ones at a square, whose flame rose to around eight meters.

Excited by the burning bonfires, many tourists of other ethnic groups also joined the dance with local Yi people.

"We heard the torch festival in Xichang and took my daughter here from Shandong to feel for the festivity. We just joined the lighting ceremony and blessing parade, and feel very happy. The atmosphere is so exciting," said a tourist from east China's Shandong Province.

Intangible cultural heritage performances like molten iron spray and fire pot ("Huohu" in Chinese) added charm to the bonfire festival. Meanwhile, two local football teams also competed for championship at the festival.

"I came to Xichang from Meigu County to watch the football game, and I'm so happy that the team I support won the game. There were so many wonderful shows here, including molten iron spray and Huohu. I think this trip is really worth it," said Shama Wutie, a tourist from Meigu County of Sichuan.

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