Daofu County in the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China, officially opened the grand event of the 2026 Sichuan Ganzi Mountain Culture and Tourism Festival on the Yuke Grassland on Friday (24/7/2026). Now in its seventh edition, this annual festival is designed to introduce the exotic nomadic culture of the Tibetan people while accelerating the growth of the regional tourism sector.
The festival's opening ceremony took place grandly under the open skies of the Yuke Grassland. Local herders revived ancient traditions by driving herds of livestock across the grassland, pitching traditional black tents made of yak hair characteristic of the Kham people, and demonstrating the use of the urdah—a traditional stone-slinging rope used for herding. This series of attractions presented an authentic portrait of Kham nomadic life that has endured for thousands of years.
The excitement continued with equestrian agility displays involving fully armed cavalry, inspired by the heroic epic of King Gesar. Additionally, the festival stage was enlivened by a fashion show blending the beauty of traditional Tibetan wool weaving (pulu) with modern design aesthetics, reflecting the harmony between preserving ancestral heritage and adapting to modern times.
The festivities drew the attention of many domestic tourists, including Zhang from Beijing, who expressed admiration for the peaceful atmosphere of rural life offered in Daofu. The festival, which runs until July 26, features eight main programs, including a mass Intangible Cultural Heritage performance involving a thousand dancers, a local culinary festival, grassland music performances, and cultural workshops.
Daofu was chosen as the hub of activities due to its scenic natural landscape, which includes the Yala Snow Mountain and the Stone Forest Park, coupled with a cool summer temperature of around 24 degrees Celsius. The region's tourism sector has shown significant growth; over the last five years (July 2021 to June 2026), Daofu has attracted 10.41 million tourists, generating 11.45 billion yuan in revenue. The local government hopes that this synergy of cultural preservation and tourism promotion will sustainably drive the local economy.
