SHANGRI-LA -- Shangri-La City in southwest China's Yunnan Province opened its largest-ever annual horse race festival on June 10, attracting throngs of tourists eager to experience the region's pastoral culture.

This year's festival shattered records with a staggering 292 horses competing, generating a buzz of excitement among tourists eager to witness the spectacle.

"This is the first time I have ever seen a horse race. The event seems really grand to me," said one of the tourists.

"It is exciting. The grassland is vast. They (the herdsmen) are full of energy," said another tourist.

Spanning three days from June 10 to June 12, the festival promised thrilling competitions alongside breathtaking equestrian shows.