Athletes have fully enjoyed the fierce competitions featuring the passion and power of the nomadic lifestyle at the fifth World Nomad Games held in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan.
The games, ran from Sept 8 to 13, have attracted over 2,500 athletes to compete in 21 events, including competitions that nomadic peoples have enjoyed for centuries.
Some unique sport events are gaining global popularities, for example, cowboys from the United States have taken an active part in kokpar competitions.
Kokpar, also known as "goat-pulling", is a traditional game where horse-mounted players battle for possession of a decapitated goat carcass, attempting to throw it into special goals. It's a combination of rugby and horseback riding.
"The 2016 World Nomad Games we were invited by the U.S. embassy and the Kyrgyz. Friends who know friends at the embassy said we can bring cowboys that can play. The horses are bridge between the two cultures," said Scott Zimmerman, a member of the U.S. kokpar team.
Another very popular sport is the power competitions. Similar to Hercules competitions around the world, men compete with the heaviest weights to lift the highest, carry the farthest, last the longest at the nomadic games.
There are five disciplines, including carrying of a 100-kilogram stone, throwing a 10-kilogram javelin and lifting a 130-kilogram log on shoulder.
Chinese strongman Deng Jie did quite well at the games, and hoped more people from his country could show their strength at the future World Nomad Games.
"I also hope that more Chinese people will like strength and sports. China is very strong. I hope to let the world see that China is strong," said Deng Jie.
More traditional folk games are taking place in Astana's Alau Ice Palace sports stadium, such as the Asyk Atu, where athletes try to win by hitting targets from a certain range.
"Asyks" are the dried knee joints of a sheep or a ram. The player who knocks out eight asyks first becomes the winner.
"Every nation should know its history. Sport is not only history, it is also the present and the future, so today we must popularize and teach children many rules that our athletes play. They must be preserved and improved," said Kamchibek Uzakbaev, president of Asyk Atu Kyrgyzstan.
Some of the sports here are seen in many cultures, such as archery and the familiar tug of war, but the games aren't only about physical capabilities, but also intellectual strength, such as board games.
The World Nomad Games take place every two years, and the 2026 version is expected to be held in Kyrgyzstan.
World athletes enjoy fierce, unique competitions at World Nomad Games
As the Qingming Festival approaches this Friday, various traditional folk activities have been held across China, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the occasion.
With a 2,500-year history, Qingming Festival, or the Festival of Pure Brightness, observed in early April, uniquely combines ancestral worship with the celebration of spring. Falling on the 15th day after the spring equinox, this ritual-rich observance reflects China's enduring values of ancestral veneration and inspires deep introspection about what gives life meaning.
In Sijia Village, Huayin City, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, a unique swing festival is held to mark the occasion. Eighteen different types of traditional swings, such as the spinning wheel swing, the Bagua swing reminiscent of a rotating carousel, and the balance swing designed for two people, have attracted many visitors.
Historically, Sijia Village served as a military post guarding the strategic Tongguan pass, a former mountain pass and fortress located south of the confluence of the Wei and Yellow Rivers. The swing tradition in the village has its origins in military training exercises like climbing and river crossing. The local swing culture further developed as regional trade flourished, eventually evolving into the "swing festival" that continues today.
"It's very exciting and tests your skill, endurance, and most importantly, your arm strength. You need to maintain balance," said Qu Xiangyang, a visitor.
In Rudong County, Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, another traditional Qingming activity takes place - kite flying.
Flying kites as a way of making wishes is an age-old Qingming custom in this region. As a result, the Qingming Festival in Nantong is also known as the "Kite Festival."
The local Banyao whistling kite making skills is listed as one of the first national intangible cultural heritage items.
According to a folk culture expert, people traditionally write the names of diseases or misfortunes on paper, attach it to a kite, and release it into the sky. This practice is believed to drive away illness and disaster, while also serving as a way to make wishes.
In south China's Guangdong Province, a large tug-of-war competition is underway in Maoming City. Teams from different towns and streets are competing, attracting many locals to cheer on their teams.
Tug-of-war, which originated during the late Spring and Autumn period (770 BC - 476 BC), became part of Qingming customs during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty once organized large-scale tug-of-war competitions for the festival.
"Tug-of-war became very popular in the Tang Dynasty, even emerging as the national sport. It originated in the Jingchu region and later spread across the country. In ancient Lingnan (Southern China), tug-of-war games were a common tradition. Through these events, people seek to pray for peace, prosperity, and abundant harvests," said Yao Guojun, vice dean of the College of Arts and Law, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology.
Traditional folk activities held for Qingming Festival
