The 2026 Sichuan Ganzi Mountain Culture & Tourism Festival opened on July 24 at Yuke Grassland in Daofu County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, drawing visitors from across China to experience the region’s distinctive nomadic culture. The seven-day event, which ran through July 26, featured a range of activities including nomadic culture performances, intangible cultural heritage (ICH) exhibitions, and folk customs experiences, combining ancient traditions with modern cultural tourism development.

The opening ceremony turned Yuke Grassland into a natural stage. Local herders drove cattle while carrying traditional black yak-hair tents and urdah, stone-throwing ropes used by Tibetan herders. The scenes recreated the millennia-old nomadic lifestyle of Kham communities, which have historically followed seasonal migration routes. A procession of heavy cavalry and Gesar riders in traditional dress galloped across the grassland, followed by a parade showcasing pulu, a traditional Tibetan handwoven wool textile, alongside modern tailoring designs. The display highlighted the combination of ancient culture and contemporary fashion.

“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,” said Mr. Zhang, a visitor from Beijing. “My whole family loves the grassland lifestyle in Daofu. It is something you cannot experience in the city.”

Now in its seventh edition, the festival included eight major events, among them the Ganzi 1,000-person ICH livestream showcase and a fashion-inspired Guozhuang gala. Parallel activities such as ICH workshops, local produce exhibitions, food tasting, and music-themed gatherings provided visitors with an immersive cultural experience, while also giving local crafts, performances, and products a wider platform. That mix matters in a county where tourism is already a significant part of the local economy, and where event programming helps link cultural preservation with visitor spending.

Daofu County, where the festival took place, is located in northwestern Sichuan and has an average summer temperature of around 24°C. The county is known for natural attractions including Yala Snow Mountain, Stone Forest Park, Yuke Grassland, alpine meadows, and Tianlong Lake, as well as cultural heritage such as Kham traditions and the Highland Silk Road.

From July 2021 to June 2026, Daofu County received 10.4123 million tourists and generated nearly 11.454 billion yuan in tourism revenue, underscoring the economic importance of cultural festivals in supporting regional tourism. The festival’s focus on nomadic culture is presented as both a way to preserve traditional practices and promote sustainable tourism that benefits local communities.