Two riders on horseback perform in perfect synchrony, standing upright on their steeds, on Jan 14. (Photo: China Daily)

A winter ice and snow photography festival was held from Jan 12 to 14 in Xiaohongshanzi village, Ulan Butong township, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, attracting more than 3,000 tourists and photography enthusiasts from 10 provincial-level regions.

The three-day event, an annual highlight of the Ulan Butong grasslands, showcased the rich horse culture of the Mongolian ethnic group while integrating photography, folk customs, and tourism. The festival was open to the public free of charge.

Set against snow-covered grasslands, the event featured a series of horse-themed performances and competitions that vividly depicted traditional nomadic life in winter. Activities included horseback folk events staged on the Yeya Lake as well as large-scale performances involving over 100 horses.

The opening ceremony featured traditional Mongolian singing and dancing, followed by a fire-worship ritual in which herders offered tributes and prayers, continuing longstanding cultural traditions.

A riders' parade later drew enthusiastic applause as 20 riders in traditional attire galloped away. Accompanied by a morin khuur (Mongolian horse-head fiddle) solo, 120 Mongolian horses thundered over the plain, their hooves kicking up sprays of snow against a backdrop of yurts and lasso-bearing riders, creating a striking winter grassland scene.

Beyond its cultural and visual appeal, the festival has also become an important platform for developing winter tourism and promoting rural vitalization in Xiaohongshanzi village.

By integrating horse culture with tourism, the event has helped generate new income opportunities for local residents. More than 200 villagers are now involved in horse-riding and related tourism services, increasing average annual incomes by about 15,000 yuan ($2,142).

"Horse culture is deeply rooted in our community," said Ji Guoyi, Party secretary of Xiaohongshanzi village. "By combining ice-and-snow scenery with traditional customs, we hope more people will learn about our hometown. Horses are not only symbols of the grassland, but also a source of livelihood for local residents," Ji said.

A bird's-eye view of a herd of galloping horses, on Jan 13. (Photo: China Daily)

Women wearing a traditional Mongolian robe tries horseback riding on Jan 14. (Photo: China Daily)

A rider bends down to pick up a hada (a traditional Tibetan silk scarf) on Jan 13. (Photo: China Daily)

Goaded by horsemen, horses gallop at full speed on Jan 12. (Photo: China Daily)

Horseback riders move in a formation on Jan 12. (Photo: China Daily)

An aerial view of the photography event on Jan 12. (Photo: China Daily)

Horses gallop through snow creating a stunning visual on Jan 12. (Photo: China Daily)