Horse racing event held in Nagqu, northern Tibet
2024-08-13
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Original title: Horse racing event held in Nagqu, northern Tibet
Nagqu, China News Service, August 12 (Reporter Zhao Langgong Sanglam) In recent days, Nagqu in northern Tibet has ushered in the annual horse racing event. On the 12th, more than 210 contestants competed in the 10-kilometer traditional race, the finale of the Nagqu Qiaqing Qiangtang Horse Racing Festival.
The picture shows 210 contestants competing in the Nagqu Qiaqing Qiangtang Horse Racing Festival on August 12. Photo by Zhao Lang, a reporter from China News Service
The Qiaqing Horse Racing event has a long history and was included in the expanded list of representative items of China's national intangible cultural heritage in 2021. Although the contestants are only about 10 years old, they are all veterans on the racecourse. Gasang, 12, is from Nierong County. He has 5 years of experience in competition at a young age and won the championship this time. He said: "This time I rode someone else's horse. I have participated in many county and township competitions on my own horse." Compared with last year's ranking of 30th, this time he won the first place, which is inseparable from the strength of the horse itself.
The picture shows the athlete Gasang winning the 10km race championship at the Naqu Qiaqing Qiangtang Horse Racing Festival on August 12. Photo by Gongsang Lamu, a reporter from China News Service
The owner of the horse, Sta, who won the fourth place in the traditional race, is from Bange County. His 14-year-old horse "Yujia" has made great achievements for him on the northern Tibetan grasslands. Last year, it won the second place in the same race. In the Bange County race, it has always been the champion and won the title of "Bange Horse King". He told China News Agency: "We have raised this horse since it was young."
The prize money for the competition is particularly eye-catching. The champion prize is 150,000 yuan (RMB, the same below), of which the rider can receive 20,000 yuan.
This traditional event is not only for local herdsmen, but also for tourists. 61-year-old Ling Liqin and her 70-year-old "best friend" drove along National Highway 219 to Tibet. She said: "I accidentally caught up with the horse racing festival and was very excited. I watched the Guozhuang yesterday and felt the peaceful (atmosphere) of the Tibetan festival." During the interview, the tourist did not forget to recommend the Guizhou "Village Super" that is popular all over the country to the reporter.
Doji Nangjia is the referee of the sports competition group of this horse racing festival. He said that compared with last year and even previous years, this horse racing festival has more equestrian performances, more horse racing events, and more opportunities for herders to participate. In addition, for the first time, famous horses and riders from Lhasa, Qinghai Province, Sichuan Province and other places were invited to participate in the famous horse championship. In his opinion, this move is more conducive to enhancing the popularity and influence of the Nagqu Qiaqing Qiangtang Horse Racing Festival.
He said that nowadays, modern means of transportation have replaced horses, but the enthusiasm of herders for both horse-raising tradition and horse racing has only increased.
Source: China News Network
