Inner Mongolia hosts winter Naadam fairs in bid to attract tourism, interest

HOHHOT - A series of winter Naadam fairs will be hosted next month in pastoral areas such as Xilingol League and Hulunbuir City of Northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local sports officials said here on Thursday.

The events will feature ethnic Mongolian traditional nomadic sports and entertainment, including horse and camel racing, wrestling and archery.

"Naadam" means "games" in Mongolian and is usually held in summer. The fair's origin lies in the warring past of the Mongolian people, and it is believed to have existed for centuries.

In more recent times, winter Naadams have been organized by the local government or herdsmen, in a bid to inject fun into winter daily life as well as to promote tourism in the region.

"Local governments' and herdsmen's passions on winter Naadams not only boom during the ancient carvinal, but it also helps outside learn more about ethnic Mongolian's multiple customs and lifestyles," said Tan Jingfeng, director of the local sports bureau.

"Local people also utilized the activities to attract tourists during the cold winter months," he added.

In addition to the traditional sporting events, tourists will enjoy folk singing, dancing and other activities during the fairs.

"I'm looking forward to joining hands and dancing around a bonfire on snow-covered grasslands, and enjoying hotpot in a subzero environment," said Yuan Lixia from Shanghai, who plans to pay a visit to Hulunbuir in December for a winter Naadam.