The final round of the year's Duan Festival -- the most important annual celebration for China's Shui ethnic minority group -- unfolded recently in the Sandu Shui Autonomous County of southwest China's Guizhou Province, where thrilling horse races drew locals and tourists alike to the mountainous region.
Villagers in traditional Shui costumes lined both sides of the field track as riders galloped through the course. Spectators rose to their feet to cheer, filling the mountain village with a festive atmosphere.
Horse racing is the centerpiece of the Duan Festival, which celebrates the harvest and the coming new year on the Shui calendar. This year's festival runs from Oct 1 to Nov 15.
Sandu, located in the southeast of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, is home to the largest Shui community in China, with more than half of the ethnic group's population living there.
This year, races are held simultaneously at designated courses across the county, with 1,010 horses competing. The authentic folk events have drawn visitors from across the country, giving a boost to local tourism.
Horse races thrill spectators as annual festival of China's Shui ethnic group gallops to final round
