Shangri-La Horse Racing Festival set to draw big crowds

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The traditional Shangri-La Horse Racing Festival will be held during the Dragon Boat Festival on June 18 in Shangri-La city in China's Yunnan Province.

"The annual Horse Racing Festival is the local oldest traditional, ethnic event and the people's most beloved festival," He Yu, Vice mayor of Shangri-La city said at a press conference.

File of horse riders competing during the Horse Racing Festival in Shangri-La in Yunnan Province, 2017. /VCG Photo

As a grand rally for the local Tibetans, Shangri-la Horse Race Festival will last three days and more than 200 horses will participate. The activities include horse racing competitions, tests of skill, and galloping.

Competitions highlighting traditional athletic folk games will also be held. During the horse racing, locals wear colorful long-sleeved clothes and hats. It is also a tradition for local residents to watch the race.

File of a rider performing during the Horse Racing Festival in 2017. /VCG Photo‍

"Hada" is a tough but interesting challenge for all the competitors. Players on horseback are required to pick up the "hada" off the ground. The hada is a traditional Tibetan white scarf.

Shangri-La, is the location of the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province. It is often referred to as the "delta region", as three major rivers converge there.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency