Herdsmen to embrace Naadam festival in North China

A two-day Naadam festival is to be held next month in Xiliinhot city, Xiliin Gol League, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, local sports officials said on Tuesday.

Naadam, usually held in mid-summer and sometimes in winter in pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia, means "games" in the Mongolian language. It often comprises wrestling, archery and horse racing, also known as the "Three Games of Men."

The opening ceremony and all the events of this year's Xiliinhot Naadam Festival will be held on grasslands far from town to avoid crowd gathering, local sports bureau said.

The festival scheduled for August 2 and 3 will feature a 256-member Mongolian wrestling tournament, horse races in 25 kilometers, 8,000 meters, 5,000 meters, 3,200 meters and 1,600 meters categories, and archery competitions.

During the festival, other activities such as beauty contests for sheep, horses and cows will also be held.