Torches relayed during Guizhou's Yi Torch Festival

Thousands of visitors and local villagers hold torches and climb along the Twenty-Four Turns Highway. [Photo by Chen Yalin/provided to China Daily]

The torch relay event of the 13th Yi Torch Festival was held in the Twenty-Four Turns Scenic Area in Qinglong county, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on Aug 9.

More than 3,000 people held torches and climbed along the scenic area's winding road, which played an important role during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

The Twenty-Four Turns Scenic Area is located 1 kilometer south of Qinglong. It was built relying on the world-famous Twenty-Four Turns Highway. The highway is 4 km long with 24 turns on one hillside.

The highway was built in 1927 and took nearly 10 years to complete. During the war, the highway was the only land transportation route for the rear area and the main artery for international aid to China, contributing to victory in the war.

In June 1988, Qinglong recognized the Twenty-Four Turns as a cultural relic site and started comprehensive protection. In 2017, the Twenty-Four Turns Scenic Area was approved as a national 4A-level tourist attraction and selected as a national red tourism site.

The Yi Torch Festival held on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month every year is the grandest festival of the Yi ethnic group in Qinglong. During the festival, thousands of people gather together to pass the torches, praying for a good harvest and the well-being of the people in the coming year.

The 13th Yi Torch Festival in Qinglong includes ceremonies to worship fire, lighting up the Twenty-Four Turns, blessing ceremonies, Yi weddings, cultural performances, bonfire parties, and ethnic cultural activities.

The fire used in the fire-worship ceremony was preserved at the Sanbao Pagoda after relaying, and lit the main torch at the festival's main venue.