Annual horse racing festival to open in north Tibet in August

　　BEIJING, July 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The annual Chang Tang Qiaqing Horse Racing Festival is set to open on Aug. 10 in Nagqu County, Nagqu Prefecture, northern Tibet, according to the organizing committee of the festival.

　　The week-long festival consists of five parts, an art performance at the opening ceremony, a traditional horsemanship performance, folk art performances and traditional horse racing as well as a sports competition.

　　The annual Chang Tang Qiaqing Horse Racing Festival is set to open on Aug. 10 in Nagqu County, Nagqu Prefecture, northern Tibet. (Xinhua Photo)

　　This year's festival will highlight art performances and the display of objects and products unique to the plateau, the organizing committee said.

　　At the opening ceremony, songs and dances featuring Tibetan culture and history, like Epic King Gesar, Tibetan clothing and traditional dance Guozhuang will be displayed.

　　Meanwhile, tents featuring the life of people on the Chang Plateau (in north Tibet) will be put up, showcasing the area‘s cultural and natural scenery and ethnic customs.

　　On the sidelines of the festival, a festival for the Chinese Caterpillar Fungus, a precious Chinese medicine widely used as a tonic, will also be held. At the same time, local products like meat, milk, furs, wool and handicrafts made by local people will also be exhibited.

　　Moreover, during the horse racing festival, streets for commodities, food, local products for agriculture and animal husbandry, technology, culture and tourism will also be set up.