When thinking of Tibet's Nagqu Prefecture, most people will think of horse races and caterpillar fungus. In the past few years, the local government has also taken up the grassland tradition of horse races and caterpillar fungus, creating two “name cards” for the most famous attractions of the region.

Because the herdsmen of the Qiangtang river basin took up horse racing as a tradition, the practice spread to the Nagqu region and has become a widely celebrated holiday, even recognized as a part of Tibet’s intangible cultural heritage. On July 30th, the local government announced that it would again host the holiday this August.

Nagqu serves as Tibet’s northern entrance, home to the origins of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers and the famed “Chinese Water Pagodas.” The region is also one of the richest in the world in terms of biodiversity.

Dekyi Drolkar, deputy commissioner of Nagqu Prefecture, said that holding the Qiaqing Horse Race Festival showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Nagqu region and hosting worthwhile experiences for visitors that display the spirit of all ethnic groups in northern Tibet while promoting the healthy and speedy development of the trade and tourism industry.

This year, competing horses in the Qiaqing Horse Festival will reach 580 in number. In addition to the traditional sport, there will be cultural performances, art exhibits, agricultural displays, and much more. Overall, the races will showcase Tibet’s rich cultural heritage as well as its rapid development and accomplishments.

Caterpillar fungus, a valuable medicinal herb with high nutritional qualities, is both abundant and famous in Nagqu. Dekyi Drolkar said that caterpillar fungus enjoys a very good reputation both at home and abroad, proving to be a favorite among merchants and businessmen worldwide.

During this year’s Horse Racing Festival, there will be another festival held in conjunction: the Caterpillar Fungus Festival. Cultivators of the fungus will be invited to sell their goods and have them evaluated for best quality, with the chance of being awarded the honor of “the Nagqu Caterpillar Fungus King.” This will help to promote Nagqu’s caterpillar fungus and the value of Nagqu’s local agricultural products as a whole.

As the government’s calculations show, the “12th Five Year Plan” period has seen the investment of over 84 million yuan into Nagqu Prefecture, completing construction of the Ronglajiancan Great Valley, the Amdo Barang Sacred Mountain, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway’s Mujiale’s line, and even opening the Hoh Xil nature reserve transportation route for the endless stream of travelers visiting the sites.