Grand camel nadam kicks off in Alshaa

The opening ceremony of the grand camel nadam takes place in Alshaa. [Photo/Alshaa League Convergence Media Center]

The grand camel nadam festival commenced in Alshaa Right Banner, Alshaa League, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Dec 28.

The two-day nadam festival features 19 events, including a camel milking competition, short-distance speed races, camel hair rope twisting, and camelback archery. The festival will also attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest camel riding class.

Camel herders from Gansu, Xinjiang, and Alshaa gathered together to celebrate the festival. Accompanying them are over 10,000 camels and more than 100 race car drivers.

Other events are taking place in tandem with this festival, including the national photography competition. These varied activities will allow visitors from all over to experience Alshaa's boundless charm.

The camel nadam opens in Alshaa. [Photo/Alshaa League Convergence Media Center]

As the "Hometown of Chinese Camels", Alshaa accounts for one-third of the country's total camel population. It is also one of the main cultivation areas for Bactrian camels.

Alshaa Right Banner, known as the "Core Area of Bactrian Camels in Alshaa", is located in the golden zone for camel milk production. With a population of 68,000 Bactrian camels, it represents 17 percent of the national total and 46 percent of the autonomous region's total. In 2023, Alshaa Right Banner was honored as the "Hometown of Chinese Camel Milk".