Performers in the opening ceremony with khada in hands (Photo/Sun Xiang)

Shooting arrows on the horse (Photo/Sun Xiang)

A grand traditional festival in northern Tibet Autonomous Region, the five-day 2017 Changtang Summer Gesar Horse Racing Art Festival kicked off on August 10 in Nagchu County, Nagchu Prefecture.

Brilliant performances in the opening ceremony, such as the world-class intangible cultural heritage Horse-racing and Kingship of King Gesar, ethnic dance Dakpo Axie, Dingga Reba and Palgon Xieqin and Nagchu circle dance, etc. impressed audience present.   

Tibetan traditional dance Dakpo Axie (Photo/Sun Xiang)

Horse racing is the traditional custom of farmers and herdsmen in northern Tibet where grasslands are green and horses are sturdy in summer. Young people in Tibetan robes continue to shoot arrows and pick up khada on the horse like their forefathers, which is quite refreshing. 

Tibetan traditional dance Dakpo Axie (Photo/Sun Xiang) 

Besides excellent culture and traditional equestrianism, the festival further show Changtang grassland’s customs and folk culture via a series of activilities, like agricultural and handicraft products sales exhibitions, tourism promotions, trade fairs, and a cordyceps sinensiss festival. 

Tibetan traditional dance Palgon Xieqin (Photo/Sun Xiang)

A Tibetan guy is performing equestrianism. (Photo/Sun Xiang)