Called “Dakchun” in Tibetan, the Naqu Horse Racing Festival is considered as the largest traditional festival in Northern Tibet. It is celebrated annually on August 10th of Gregorian calendar and usually lasts 5 to 15 days.

Playing an important role for the nomads, horse racing is always considered as an important tradition program that must be passed on to the next generations.

Thanks to the ideal location, the Naqu and Ando areas are the best places to experience the nomads’ life in northern Tibet. In addition to the cultural tour, you can discover the beauty of the mountains and waters at the source of the Nujiang River and the Yangtze River in the area.

The nomads value the horse racing festival more than the Tibetan New Year. Before the celebration, the nomads come to the gathering place in brightly colored costumes and with their most valuable jewelry, and store their overnight tents on the steppe. There is a lively life for one night and is a mini-city. Naqu Horse Racing Festival is famous for many activities, such as Material exchange, cultural programs, various popular sports (tug-of-war, long jump, bear load), religious activities. For the right competition, all devout equestrians must circle the huge burning incense stage with their horse to show their respect and to accept the blessings of the high-ranking lamas. This is also referred to as the first formal appearance of the rider and horse. The scream and the cheers of the crowds on both sides of the racetrack echo across the field and persist. This is said to be the most passionate emotional exchange between the unscrupulous nomads and the heavens as well as the earth. The length of the race track is different, about ten kilometers. Depending on their age, the participants are divided into a children's group and an adult group. The competition relates to archery on horseback, shooting, acrobatics on horseback, short-distance sprinting, pick up Hada on horseback, greeting the spectator with Highland barley wine, etc. Sometimes dressage will be performed.