A grassroots horse racing competition kicked off in Sandu Shui Autonomous County of southwest China's Guizhou Province on Saturday, drawing crowds of domestic and international visitors to immerse themselves in the hoof beat and roaring cheers as well as the unique ethnic cultural heritage.

Alongside the fierce competition was an equally electrifying atmosphere off the track, where locals welcomed visitors with alcohol, toasting songs, and colorful cultural performances.
"I'm very happy to watch horse racing in Sandu today. This is a perfect ending to my week-long trip in Guizhou," said a French tourist.
In Sandu, visitors from home and abroad can also experience the unique charm of the region's intangible cultural heritages, with the most eye-catching one being the horse tail embroidery of the Shui ethnic group.
"We came here today to see the horse tail embroidery works. I think it's really beautiful and quite novel, and it's closely linked to ethnic culture. So my classmates and I like it very much. We are learning the technique and trying to make one," said an Angolan tourist.
"We made beautiful horse tail embroidery works in the shape of butterflies. I hope to keep it as a precious and unique souvenir from our Guizhou trip," said another French tourist.
By integrating sporting events with intangible cultural heritage, Sandu has seen a continuous boom in cultural tourism over the recent years.
In the first half of 2026, the country welcomed more than 3.22 million visitors, marking an increase of 11 percent year on year.