Material wealth, social unity showcased at Xinjiang gala

To mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the local residents hosted a grand festival to showcase their material wealth, as well as the spirit of unity and progress of all ethnic groups in the region.

As part of the 2025 Xinjiang Ili Tianma Cultural Tourism Festival which opened on July 19 in Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture, over 10,000 horses were released, letting them gallop freely on the Karkant grassland to showcase the local material prosperity. The Kazak horses are known as "'Heavenly Horses" (Tianma) with both strength and speed as a superior breed.

With the theme "70 Years of Splendor in Tianshan, 10,000 Horses Galloping toward the Future", the grand event opened at the Tianma Tourism and Culture Park in Zhaosu county, exhibiting local material prosperity, as well as social progress and unity of all ethnic groups.

Accompanied by the song "Ode to the Red Flag", eight flag bearers solemnly escorted the national flag of the People's Republic of China into the venue.

The opening ceremony of the festival was set against the backdrop of the majestic Tianshan Mountains and the vast grassland, with cultural performances comprising three chapters focusing on the ancient and the new Silk Road, and a finale.