Xizang horse race draws competitors from around China

An invitational horse race has begun in Damshung county, Xizang autonomous region, as part of a series of annual horse culture events. The invitational runs through Sunday.

The event features 12 competitions of varying difficulty. Highlights include a 7-kilometer race and a walking race for stallions, as Xizang Commerce Daily reported.

Participants and their horses come from around the country, with some coming from Xizang, Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan and Gansu.

Multiple well-known horses will take part in the competitions, including Daqie and Dongda from Xizang, Bayi from Shangri-La, Yunnan province, and Gawa from Sichuan province.

Apart from the horse races, the Damshung County Art Troupe will give performances at the racetrack.

In the evenings, attendees can join traditional Gorshey dances around a bonfire.

The event venue will host 241 catering and merchandise stalls and 14 entertainment booths, providing a range of food and entertainment options.

Dekyi Pedron, an official from the county's culture and tourism bureau, said that the event is expected to attract over 12,000 visitors per day at the venue and nearly 20,000 daily in the county.

"The event will potentially boost the service industry, including dining, accommodation and transportation, and this could drive economic growth by over 40 million yuan ($5.5 million), effectively invigorating the local economy," Dekyi Pedron was quoted as saying by Xizang Commerce Daily.

chinadaily