More Than 700 Horses Compete in Traditional Race on Hongyuan Grassland

Dragon Media News Desk

More than 700 horses from China’s Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces competed in a traditional horse racing event held in Serzhung Village of Hongyuan County, Sichuan Province.

The three-day community-organised competition attracted tens of thousands of spectators to the racecourse. Horse riders, owners and members of different ethnic communities from surrounding counties and cities turned the vast Hongyuan grassland into a vibrant venue for cultural celebration.

The event showcased not only the speed of the horses and the skills of their riders, but also local traditions, the lifestyle of nomadic herding communities and unity among different ethnic groups. Amid cheers from spectators, the competition highlighted the courage, determination and perseverance traditionally associated with horse racing culture.

The racecourse also served as a shared platform for interaction, dialogue and cultural exchange. People from different ethnic communities gathered at the same venue, strengthening mutual friendship and understanding while enjoying the competitions.

In recent years, Hongyuan County has promoted a development model that combines traditional sporting events with cultural tourism and rural revitalisation. Taking advantage of its location near the junction of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces, the county has organised large-scale horse racing events to attract visitors and stimulate the local economy.

The arrival of riders, participants and tourists from outside the area increased business for local restaurants, accommodation providers and other commercial services. Herders also benefited from the sale of distinctive grassland products, local cuisine, traditional handicrafts and cultural experience programmes.

Local authorities said such activities have helped bring previously underused village-level resources into productive economic use while expanding income opportunities for pastoral families.

The competition has also strengthened Hongyuan Grassland’s reputation for its distinctive horse culture and traditional way of life. The local government is seeking to integrate traditional horse racing, folk culture and ecological tourism while addressing weaknesses in the rural cultural tourism sector.

Officials aim to develop the horse racing event not merely as a sporting competition, but as a broader platform for ethnic unity, cultural preservation, tourism promotion and rural economic development. The initiative is expected to provide a stronger foundation for the long-term growth of Hongyuan’s cultural tourism industry.