Xinjiang – 02 May 2025: Ethnic games tradition took center stage in Xinjiang as 1,000 competitors gathered near the Taklimakan Desert for a festival of grit and culture.
From April 12 to 14, the 29th grassroots games of ethnic groups lit up Yutian county in Hotan prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. There were 16 events, including camel racing and buzkashi — a goat-grabbing horseback contest rooted in Central Asian tradition.
Spectators perched on haystacks, dodging charging animals and dusty terrain. Athletes marched proudly, not in uniforms, but holding hometown melons.
“The ethnic games tradition blends sports with culture,” said farmer Eziz Aysha, who returned to win after last year’s camel mishap.
Another standout, Abdulaeziz Abduhewar, showcased dazzling skills in Maire ball, a hockey-like sport from the Uygur heritage. A fierce buzkashi duo — father and son from the Aman family — dominated their match. “We came to make friends — and win!” they shouted.
The ethnic games tradition began nearly three decades ago, despite harsh conditions. Back then, Yutian suffered frequent sandstorms.
Since then, a 3,046-kilometer tree wall has shielded the area, reducing sandstorm days by over 50 annually. The improved environment boosted sports for local women, especially the relocated Maire ball team. “Now we have roads, neighbors, and jerseys,” one member said.
Between competitions, crowds thronged the local bazaar — southern Xinjiang’s largest — filled with sizzling kebabs, fresh melons, and desert roses. As the sun dipped behind dunes, laughter and cheers echoed across the open land — a testament to endurance, pride, and tradition.
