Gansu Hosts Ethnic Equestrian Competition With 119 Athletes
Dragon Media News Desk
The Sunan sub-competition of the ethnic equestrian event under the 11th Gansu Provincial Traditional Ethnic Minority Sports Games has begun in China’s Gansu Province.
The competition opened at the Solange Horse Racing Field in Sunan Yugur Autonomous County under Zhangye City. Held in Sunan, a region known for its mountainous landscape, vast grasslands and rich ethnic culture, the event is being viewed as a platform that combines traditional sports, ethnic culture, tourism and public fitness.
Teams from 14 cities and prefectures across Gansu Province, including Lanzhou, Jiayuguan, Jinchang and Zhangye, as well as the Lanzhou New Area, are taking part in the competition. A total of 119 athletes from various ethnic communities, including Tibetan, Mongolian, Yugur, Hui and Uyghur groups, gathered at the foot of the Qilian Mountains to compete in three days of traditional horse racing, equestrian events and camel racing.
Gansu is a province with a rich multi-ethnic population. It has a long history of horse culture linked to grasslands, pastoral life and traditional breeds such as the Mongolian horse and Hequ horse. Horse racing and equestrian sports are regarded as an important cultural heritage connected with local lifestyles, production systems, travel, festivals and community identity.
At the opening ceremony, representatives of Gansu’s sports authorities said the ethnic equestrian competition was not merely a sporting event, but also an important platform for promoting exchange, unity, friendship and shared cultural identity among different ethnic communities.
The competition includes traditional events related to ethnic horse racing, gaited horse contests, camel racing and equestrian skills. These events require a combination of speed, balance, control, courage, discipline and traditional expertise.
The competition at the Solange Horse Racing Field has attracted strong interest from local spectators and tourists. Traditional riding costumes, ethnic attire, cultural performances and the enthusiasm of the athletes have created a festive atmosphere at the venue.
During the event, participants demonstrated the sporting traditions, equestrian customs and cultural pride of their respective ethnic communities. The coordination between the speed of the horses and the skills of the riders drew the attention of spectators, while special events such as camel racing reflected the geographical and cultural characteristics of northwest China.
Sunan Yugur Autonomous County is one of Gansu’s important ethnic cultural areas. The traditions, languages, clothing, music, dance and pastoral culture of communities such as the Yugur, Tibetan and Mongolian peoples have enriched the local identity.
According to local officials, such competitions not only help preserve traditional sports, but also promote ethnic culture, rural tourism, local products, hospitality and economic activities. The event has boosted sectors related to hotels, transportation, food services, handicrafts and tourism.
This year’s competition is being held under a structure that includes a main venue and sub-venues. Tianshui serves as the main venue, while Sunan has been selected as the special sub-venue for the ethnic equestrian events. This has given Sunan an opportunity to showcase its horse culture, grassland tourism and traditional ethnic sports at the provincial level.
Organizers said the purpose of the competition is to connect traditional ethnic sports with modern sports management, promote a culture of public fitness and strengthen dialogue, exchange and unity among different communities.
Participating athletes have been encouraged to compete in the spirit of equality, unity, friendship and fair competition. Referees have been asked to make impartial and responsible decisions, while staff and volunteers have been urged to work with dedication to ensure the success of the event.
