Camels take center stage at Nadam event

A Nadam fair event featuring camels kicked off in Alshaa Left Banner, Alshaa League of Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Nov 10.

More than 480 visitors from places including Gansu, Qinghai, and Shaanxi provinces, as well as Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, celebrated the Nadam fair together with local herdsmen.

Activities including horse racing, camel racing, horseback archery, camelback archery, and boke (Mongolian wrestling) will be held during the three-day Nadam fair.

In addition, seminars on the development of camel sports, a camel-themed photography competition, and exhibitions and sales of camels and related products will also be held at the Nadam fair. A total of 3,200 camels will be brought to the fair in total. 

Wang Wangsheng, secretary of the banner, said that camels are an important part of desert life, and contribute much to the tourism industry of the banner. Alshaa has taken a series of measures in recent years to help preserve its camel traditions. 

Herdsmen ride camels at a Nadam event in Alshaa Left Banner, Alshaa League of Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Nov 10. [Photo/people.cn]

Herdsmen ride camels at the Nadam fair in Alshaa Left Banner, Alshaa League of Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Nov 10. [Photo/people.cn]