A rider performs horsemanship during the opening ceremony of the 12th Gesar horse racing festival in Maqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Horse racing, ingrained in Tibetan and Mongolian culture, has been a significant part of the lives of people in those regions.

The 12th Gesar horse racing festival kicked off in Maqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province. More than 900 horses of 52 teams from provinces and autonomous regions including Tibet, Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, Sichuan and Gansu will compete in speed and endurance riding during the festival, which will also feature grassland music festivals, equestrian performances and folk songs.

A rider performs horsemanship during the opening ceremony of the 12th Gesar horse racing festival in Maqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Riders compete during the 12th Gesar horse racing festival in Maqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

A rider performs horsemanship during the opening ceremony of the 12th Gesar horse racing festival in Maqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Visitors attend the opening ceremony of the 12th Gesar horse racing festival in Maqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Ma Jing)

Riders compete during the 12th Gesar horse racing festival in Maqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Ma Jing)

Riders perform horsemanship during the opening ceremony of the 12th Gesar horse racing festival in Maqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Ma Jing)

A rider performs horsemanship during the opening ceremony of the 12th Gesar horse racing festival in Maqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

A rider performs horsemanship during the opening ceremony of the 12th Gesar horse racing festival in Maqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

A rider performs horsemanship during the opening ceremony of the 12th Gesar horse racing festival in Maqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 12th Gesar horse racing festival in Maqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 12th Gesar horse racing festival in Maqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)