Gyantse Horse Race

Gyantse Horse Race and Archery Festival is the most prestigious horse race and archery contest, having hosted the first event in 1408. In those early times, contests included the horse race, archery, and shooting on gallop, followed by a few days of entertainment and picnicking. In more modern times, ball games, track and field events, folk songs and dances, and barter trade have been added to the original schedule of events. Horse race and archery are very popular in Tibet, and Gyantse enjoys prestige of being the earliest in history by starting in 1408. Contests in early times included horse race, archery, and shooting on gallop followed by a few days’ entertainment or picnic. Nowadays, ball games, track and field events, folk songs and dances, barter trade are in addition to the above.