Inner Mongolia's Naadam festival draws locals and visitors alike, Fang Aiqing in Xiliinhot and Yuan Hui in Hohhot report.

Strength and agility, courage and strategy, free spirits and tenderness — Naadam celebrations across North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region are a vivid expression of Mongolian culture, drawing locals and visitors alike throughout the summer.

Naadam, meaning "games" or "entertainment" in Mongolian, is one of the most emblematic folk festivals of the Mongolian ethnic group and recognized as national intangible cultural heritage. Traditionally featuring Bokh (Mongolian-style wrestling), horse racing and archery competitions, the festival is a time-honored celebration of strength, tradition and community. The earliest documented records of Naadam can be traced back 800 years.

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On July 19, the 35th Inner Mongolia Grassland Naadam Festival opened in Xiliin Gol League in pouring rain, joined by performers and competitors from across the region. Despite the fresh experience for many tourists who were drenched in the downpour and trudging in the mud while random horses strolled by, rainfall is considered auspicious on the grassland, symbolizing robust growth for the grass and the livestock.

The opening ceremony featured over 1,000 herders marching around a circular arena, accompanied by 512 professional wrestlers in traditional Mongolian costumes, bare-chested to show their strength and confidence. Traditional Mongolian musical forms such as khoomei (throat singing), urtiin duu (long song) and morin khuur (horse-headed fiddle), as well as classic folk songs and dances, were also highlighted.

A leisure section before the ceremony invited a group of interested visitors to participate in a sheep-grabbing competition. Despite the organizers' attempts to control the tempo by shouting instructions, the crowd remained completely focused on the sheep, adding a humorous touch to the event.

Bokh involves not only a test of strength and endurance but also that of concentration, patience, timing and the ability to read the opponent's weakness. A standoff that may seem like a pause to spectators is often a sign of a strategic mental duel already underway.

Some moments such as female horseback competitors picking up hada scarves at full gallop and archers swiftly and decisively drawing their bows and releasing the arrows were quickly captured and circulated widely online.

Although many competitions and cultural experience activities were delayed and postponed due to the rain, the enthusiasm remained. According to Inner Mongolia's department of culture and tourism, the main venue of the Naadam festival received more than 200,000 visits as of the morning of July 21, generating revenue exceeding 60 million yuan ($8.4 million), a 40 percent growth year-on-year.

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He Mingjian, director of the Xiliin Gol League's bureau of culture, sports, tourism, radio and television, says the league will continue to host Naadam events through August, blending traditional and modern attractions like music festivals and motor races to appeal to all generations.

Contact the writers at fangaiqing@chinadaily.com.cn