Known as "Dakyung" in Tibetan language, Nagqu Horse Racing Festival is the grandest festival in northern Tibet, which takes place in August every year with the duration of 5 to 15 days. The typical festival can be traced back to the 8th century when the Gar Family was in power ruling Tibet on behalf of the kings of Tubo Kingdom.

Influenced by the Tibetan Buddhist culture, horses have been closely associated with Tibetans' life both for material and spiritual aspiration. Affection toward horse is a natural impulse out of native Tibetan and horse racing has been the main entertainment for many Tibetan festivals and gatherings. It can be said that horse racing competition is essential in all the major festivals, which is a very characteristic of Tibetan people.


When to go?
The Nagqu Horse Racing Festival in 2015 will be held on Aug. 10 and lasts for five days. At that day, tens of thousands of nomads, impressively dressed in colorful attire, gather on the vast grassland dotted with tents outside to celebrate this magnificent competition. It is said that such a gathering is also a good opportunity for young people to find their soul mates.

The golden season to Nagqu grassland is from May to September, especially in August. The mild climate, green grassland, stunning natural landscape, devout Tibetan people form a unique sight on north Tibetan grassland in summer.


What to see?
After the grand opening ceremony, various common activities will be held, such as horse racing, yak racing, wrestling, stone lifting, tugs of war, riffle/arrow shooting on horseback, display of horsemanship, Tibetan operas performance and trade fair, and so on. You will get to know more about this tough ethnic group and experience local and traditional activities of the horse racing festival.

Tibetan attire is also one of the highlights of the horse racing festival. On the day of the festival, nomads and their families begin to pour into Nagqu grassland with their finest attire. Charming girls are dressed up during the festival and the racetrack will be a large ethnic costume catwalk at that time, when you can appreciate different costumes of different ethnic groups. In other words, tourists will enjoy an attire feast.


What you can do?
During Nagqu Horse Racing Festival you can not only enjoy spectacular horsemanship in the daytime, but participate in some folk performances with local people at night to experience their passionate entertainment, such as mass singing and dancing performance.

When night falls, people will sing and dance around the campfire outside their tents. All you need to do is gather around and spread out hand in hand with them and then cheer on it. Just enjoy yourself and have a memorable night with these enthusiastic friends.

During the festival, the storytellers of "King Gesar" will also come back to tell stories. If you are interested, you can have a great chance to meet them and contact with them.

Of course, don't miss delicious Tibetan food. The diet in Nagqu is typical Tibetan style developed by geographical environment on the plateau. Tibetan meal is mainly based on animal products. You can taste some traditional Tibetan food in different tents, such as beef, mutton, pork, buttered tea, cheese, yak yogurt, fresh milk, and different kinds of noodles, and explore some unexpected surprises.

(Notice: Don't eat too much Tibetan food at the first time to avoid indigestion. If visit some remote areas far away from town, you need to carry some dry food and drinking water because of inconvenient catering.)

The Nagqu Horse Racing Festival is the grandest festival in northern Tibet, where you can experience wild and authentic glamor of Tibet, including the most primitive and pure life style of Tibetan nomads, Tibetan folk culture, brave and sturdy character of Tibetan people. Now, the annual Nagqu horse racing festival is around the corner. Are you also looking forward to joining in the feast? Don't hesitate, just come and enjoy yourself. Nagqu is waiting for you.