The 2026 Sichuan Ganzi Mountain Culture & Tourism Festival commenced on July 24 at Yuke Grassland in Daofu County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. Now in its seventh edition, the festival runs through July 26 and features eight major events, including nomadic culture performances, intangible cultural heritage (ICH) exhibitions, and folk customs experiences, alongside parallel activities such as ICH workshops, local produce exhibitions, food tasting, and music gatherings.
The opening ceremony transformed Yuke Grassland into a natural stage, with local herders driving cattle across the grasslands while carrying black yak-hair tents and using urdah—traditional stone-throwing ropes. These scenes vividly recreated the millennia-old nomadic lifestyle of Kham communities. A grand procession of heavy cavalry and Gesar riders followed, with riders in traditional attire galloping across the grassland. A vibrant parade showcased pulu—a traditional Tibetan handwoven wool textile—alongside modern tailoring, highlighting the blend of ancient culture and modern fashion.
Mr. Zhang, a visitor from Beijing, said: 'As the scenes of nomadic migration gradually unfolded before my eyes, a long-lost yearning for a simpler pastoral life suddenly welled up within me. My whole family loves the grassland lifestyle in Daofu. It is something you cannot experience in the city.'
Daofu County, located in northwestern Sichuan with an average summer temperature of around 24°C, offers a blend of natural landscapes—including Yala Snow Mountain, Stone Forest Park, Yuke Grassland, alpine meadows, and Tianlong Lake—and cultural heritage such as Kham traditions and the Highland Silk Road. From July 2021 to June 2026, the county received 10.4123 million tourists, generating nearly 11.454 billion yuan in tourism revenue.
The festival is part of broader efforts to promote cultural tourism in the region, leveraging events like the Ganzi 1,000-person ICH livestream showcase and the fashion-inspired Guozhuang gala to attract visitors and showcase local traditions.
