Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – A press conference for the 2025 Nagqu Qiaqing Horse Racing Festival was held in Lhasa on the 29th. The festival will officially begin on September 5th.
Zhou Qingke, Standing Committee Member of the Nagqu Municipal Party Committee and Minister of Publicity, introduced that the Qiaqing Horse Racing Festival is the largest and most influential traditional event in northern Tibet. It is not only a sporting extravaganza showcasing courage and skill, but also an important platform for promoting the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation, highlighting the achievements of Nagqu's high-quality development, promoting exchanges and integration among various ethnic groups, and advancing social harmony and ethnic unity.
He also stated that this year's festival will be held from September 5th to 7th at the Nagqu Gesar Horse Racing Track, with the pre-festival period from August 27th to September 4th and the official event from September 5th to 7th. The opening ceremony will be held on the morning of September 5th. The overall event, centered on horse culture, is divided into three chapters: "The Sound of Hooves on the Plateau Reflects Glory," "Golden Saddle Imprints Illuminate the Journey," and "Building a Glorious Chapter Together." It organically integrates traditional horse racing performances with artistic performances, and includes a specially planned cultural evening celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Regarding the races, this year's horse racing festival brings together renowned horses from various cities and prefectures of the Tibet Autonomous Region and other provinces and cities (prefectures) to compete alongside famous horses from the Qiangtang region. A total of 13 races and 2 traditional equestrian events will be held. The mass sports section is equally exciting. It mainly includes four mass sports events: stone lifting, Wuerduo (a type of horse racing game), tug-of-war, and Yajia (another type of horse racing game). The second Farmers' and Herdsmen's Fun Sports Meet will also be held, featuring 12 fun and accessible competitions, such as Tibetan dice games, providing a joyful platform for farmers and herdsmen to showcase their talents and hone their skills.
The opening ceremony featured a special performance by the Tibet Autonomous Region Sports Bureau Equestrian Performance Team, the Qiongqin Equestrian Performance Team of Hongyuan County, Sichuan Province, and the Litang County Horse Racing Association of Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Their exquisite skills showcased the ultimate charm of "man and horse as one," providing the audience with a stunning visual feast and highlighting the contemporary spirit of ethnic sports. (End)
