A thousand-year-old sacred flame ignites the depths of Wumeng, while the enigmatic Yelang region resounds with the joyful songs of its people. On July 24, the launch ceremony for Bijie City’s 2026 Torch Carnival Season—themed “Natural Coolness, Burning Bliss—Explore Bijie with the Torch”—was held with great splendor at the Asilixi Square of the Hezhang County Convention and Exhibition Center. The millennia‑old sacred flame, drawn from the highest peak in Guizhou, was kindled here, bringing together visitors from across the province and beyond, as well as people of all ethnic groups, to gather in the ancient land of Yelang for a grand ethnic celebration where fire mingles with the crisp高原 breeze.

The launch ceremony integrates three major components: folk‑custom experiences, cultural performances, and a mass bonfire celebration. Before the ceremony began, a heartwarming long‑table feast was laid out, featuring Yelang mutton soup, chicken stewed with gastrodia, Yi‑style meat dumplings, and zha wine, served in succession. Guests gathered around the long table, listened to the Yi people’s toasting songs, and immersed themselves in the unique culinary traditions of the Yelang region.

The launch ceremony was graced by a star-studded lineup, with a dazzling array of performing talents. The evening’s artistic gala was divided into three major chapters: “A Millennium of Splendor,” “Deep in the Wumeng Mountains,” and “A Shared Wind Across Ten Thousand Li.” A scenic performance titled “Cuotai” brought to life the ancient origins of fire‑related culture, while “Bumo” vividly portrayed traditional folk rituals for blessings. Intangible cultural heritage acts such as “Rolling Mountain Beads” and the “Moon‑Lute Dance” took to the stage one after another, offering a lively glimpse into Hezhang’s profound Yelang heritage and its rich, colorful ethnic cultures. Renowned musicians—including the Ajitai Group, Ao Jie’age, and Yi People Legend—alternately performed timeless ethnic classics like “Ayi Mo” and “My Dear Cousin Who’s Leaving,” infusing the event with an intoxicating aura of Wumeng’s distinctive charm.

The highly anticipated star, renowned martial‑arts actor Fan Shaohuang, made a grand entrance, sending the atmosphere into a fever pitch. A cherished screen icon for an entire generation, Fan has left an indelible mark with iconic roles such as Xu Zhu in “Demi‑Gods and Semi‑Devils” and Jin Shanzhao in “Ip Man.” After taking the stage, he greeted the audience, sharing his heartfelt impressions of visiting Bijie and lavishing praise on Asilixi’s breathtaking scenery, its cool highland climate, and its rich, time‑honored folk traditions. To the accompaniment of familiar melodies, Fan passionately performed the classic film theme “The Difficult Sutra” and the inspiring anthem “You Are a Hero,” his powerful voice igniting the entire venue. Spontaneously, the crowd joined in a rousing sing‑along, their voices and cheers echoing through the night sky.

The climax of the entire launch ceremony arrived as scheduled, with a giant bonfire slowly kindled. To the accompaniment of rousing music, visitors and people of all ethnic groups took up torches, singing and dancing in rhythm. The flames illuminated the night sky, and joyful cheers echoed across the plateau. Guests from all corners gathered around the bonfire, singing and dancing with unrestrained enthusiasm, vividly painting a harmonious picture of interaction, exchange, and integration among the diverse peoples.

It is understood that this year’s Torch Carnival Season will follow a model of “high-altitude fire‑taking, main‑venue kickoff, and coordinated festivities across nine counties and urban districts.” The sacred flame will depart from Hezhang and be relayed sequentially to each county and district in Bijie, sparking a province‑wide boom in cultural and tourism activities. As one of the event’s primary venues, Hezhang will simultaneously open three sub‑venues—Jiacaiping, Ertai Po Scenic Area, and Shuanghe Park—from July 24 to 26, offering an array of attractions, including the Axi Lixi Plateau Orienteering Race, the Axi Lixi Carnival Night with a star‑studded concert, a folk‑song carnival, and a special performance titled “The 2026 Xiangshuitan Music Festival Comes to Axi Lixi.”

In the height of summer, under the cool breezes of Wumeng, today’s Asilixi boasts breathtaking scenery and picturesque vistas, making it an ideal haven for escaping the heat and enjoying health‑focused retreats. On the Asilixi Jiucaiping plateau, hundreds of thousands of acres of wild chive blossoms lie poised to bloom, gradually unfurling their delicate buds. By August, when the flowering reaches its peak, rolling waves of purple will cascade across the mountains, painting a grand and exquisite panorama of a highland sea of flowers—and weaving a unique, violet‑hued romance all its own. Leveraging its unparalleled ecological advantages and refreshing climate, Asilixi Jiucaiping was proudly featured on the “2026 National Summer‑Escape Climate Resources Map” during the flagship events of the 2026 National Summer Culture and Tourism Consumption Season, earning its place among the nation’s premier summer‑escape destinations and cementing its reputation as a top choice for summer getaways in China.

The Xilisi’ertai Scenic Area, hailed as the “Altai of the South,” has captured attention and drawn crowds with its vast alpine meadows, refreshing high-altitude evening breezes, and the trendy, Instagram‑worthy Wave Road. Its pristine mountain landscapes seamlessly blend with cutting‑edge recreational experiences, attracting countless visitors eager to check in and explore. Meanwhile, the Jiugushui Hot Spring Resort offers a new, all‑in‑one approach to summer wellness: by day, guests can dive into exhilarating water‑based challenges and unleash their summer energy; at night, they can bask beneath a sky full of stars while indulging in an immersive soak in natural hot springs. The soothing waters gently ease both body and mind, banishing travel fatigue and allowing visitors to savor a leisurely, restorative retreat amid breathtaking mountains and tranquil hot springs.

Drawing on the plateau’s cool climate, the breathtaking mountain scenery of Axi Lixi, and the millennia‑old Yelang cultural heritage, Hezhang continues to enhance its signature “summer retreat and health tourism + ethnic festivals” brand. This Torch Carnival season serves as a vital platform for preserving the Yi people’s time‑honored torch‑lighting traditions and intangible cultural heritage, while also marking a key step in advancing the high‑quality, integrated development of culture and tourism under the “Mysterious Yelang · Axi Lixi” banner. We warmly invite visitors from all corners to come to Axi Lixi, explore the ancient homeland of Yelang, and experience the region’s vibrant and diverse ethnic customs.