Over 2,000 herdsman families in Ar Horqin Banner of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region began transferring about 146,000 livestock to summer pastures on Thursday.

As the rest grazing season ends, the herdsmen depart from the winter camps and will end their journey 100 kilometers away.

They will live in the summer pastures for five months.

The seasonal trek takes place twice each year. As the herdsmen need to stay where the water and grass resources are abundant, therefore the seasonal transfer. It is also a way to avoid overgrazing on the same pasture and allows the grassland to renew itself. Such activity aims for sustainable grazing and pasture management, and at the same time, it preserves local customs.

(Cover image via VCG)

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