'Heavenly horses' festival heats up Xinjiang

Thrilling equestrian competitions, in-depth academic seminars on the horse industry, dynamic youth combat matches, and vibrant cultural performances… these are just some of the highlights of the 2025 Xinjiang Ili Heavenly Horses Culture and Tourism Festival, currently underway in Zhaosu County, Xinjiang.

While the opening ceremony took place on Saturday, the five-month-long festival runs from May to October, featuring a total of 16 diverse and engaging events.

Known as “China’s Land of Heavenly Horses,” Zhaosu boasts a rich tradition of horse breeding that spans thousands of years. The county is renowned for the Ili horse, a breed admired for its excellent combination of power and agility.

The festival was first launched in 1992 and has since become a signature cultural and tourism event in the county, celebrating the heritage of horse culture while promoting ethnic traditions and local tourism.