Naadams open across Inner Mongolia

HOHHOT, China, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The ice and snow Naadam Fair set off on Tuesday in Duolun County in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The Naadam is a traditional festival held in various areas in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At the event in Duolun County, a train of camels swept into a stadium on the grasslands, preparing for a 15km race with jockeys on their backs.

The camels are ridden by ethnic Mongolian herdsmen wearing traditional blue, green and red lambskin outfits, celebrating their traditions at the Naadam.

When the race starts, camels' hooves kicked up the snow and hundreds of people in the audience cheered warmly.

"It's surprising, I felt like it got hot here watching the fierce competition in the freezing cold winter," said Shen Shihua, a tourist from southwest China's Chongqing.

Local residents and visitors took part in a series of sporting competitions including horse and camel racing, Mongolian wrestling and archery.

Nearly 300 kilometers west of Duolun, Xilinhot City's yearly winter Naadam kicked off on the same day.

Organizers hosted a ceremony worshipping fire and also made sure that there were performances to entertain audience. Snowfield soccer and skating were also showcased at the event.

In the region's capital city Hohhot, an ice and snow carnival featuring ice sculptures and skiing competitions opened on Tuesday evening.

Several Naadams were ongoing in Bayannur City and Alxa League in the western part of Inner Mongolia.

"With temperatures seldom rising above zero degrees Celsius for several months, participating in winter Naadams is good way to find amusement and keep the body fit," said He Xiaoping, a citizen of Hohhot. Enditem