During the annual Shepherds' Festival in Bayanbulak, Xinjiang, China, even rain cannot dampen the enthusiasm of the herders. They come from all directions, some on horseback, others by car.

Horse racing and wrestling are the main and most common activities, with some places also featuring archery and horseback competitions.

Nowadays, many Mongolian children leave the grassland and their horses for city life, so some horse owners invite nearby Kazakh kids to compete in horse races.

With modernization, more herders now have motor vehicles, but horses remain an irreplaceable companion for the Mongolian people.