On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on July 19th, the 2025 Xinjiang Yili Tianma Cultural Tourism Festival, with the theme of “Seventy Years of Splendor in Tianshan, Ten Thousand Horses Galloping towards the Future”, grandly opened at the Tianma Tourism and Culture Park in Zhaosu, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
An equestrian show is staged during a tourism festival in Zhaosu, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The opening ceremony stage of the 2025 Xinjiang Yili Tianma Cultural Tourism Festival was set against the backdrop of the majestic Tianshan Mountains and the vast grasslands. The cultural performance was composed of three chapters, “Thousand-Year Hoofprints · New Look of the Silk Road”, “Thousand-Year Hoofprints · New Melody of the Silk Road”, “Thousand-Year Hoofprints · New Trend of the Silk Road”, and a finale. The opening ceremony performance began with the opening dance and song “United as One to Host the Grand Event”, showcasing the spirit of unity and progress of all ethnic groups.
The crosstalk artist Feng Gong, along with several disciples, ingeniously incorporated elements such as Xinjiang cuisine, Yili’s beautiful scenery, and the name of Zhaosu County into the crosstalk performance, drawing rounds of applause and laughter from the audience. “Bata” Yu Shi and “Highland Talent” Ma Yuhui, a postdoctoral fellow in animal husbandry at the Zhaosu County Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Development Center, jointly introduced the famous horses of Zhaosu to the audience. The vice chairman of the China Film Association and renowned director Wu Jing also appeared at the opening ceremony for the second time after 2024, using language to promote Xinjiang, introduce Yili, and cheer for Zhaosu. Renowned actors, singers, and bands such as Zhao Wenzhuo, Ao Riqile, and Hanggai Band also successively appeared on the opening ceremony stage.
During the event, Zhaosu County Committee presented the certificate of honorary citizen to Yu Shi and the certificate of ambassador for promoting the Tianma culture of Xinjiang Yili to Feng Gong, Zhao Wenzhuo, Jia Xuming, Xiong Linlin, Cao Suifeng, Mu Qimiya, and Aoriqileng.
At the end of the opening ceremony, all the performers sang “Ode to the Motherland” with deep emotion. Meanwhile, the grand “Ten Thousand Horses Galloping” performance was staged passionately on the Karkant grassland, bringing the entire event to a climax.
Xu Bo, a tourist from Guizhou, said, “This is my first time to come to Zhaosu to watch the opening ceremony of the Tianma Cultural Tourism Festival. The scene was really impressive. The galloping of ten thousand horses was very spectacular. The atmosphere, interaction and cheers on the spot were all particularly infectious.” I think this trip to Zhaosu was very worthwhile and I will come again in the future. The delicious food, beautiful scenery and the warmth of the people in Zhaosu, I think, are all very good.
In recent years, Zhaosu County has been deeply exploring the unique tourism resources of “China’s Tianma Hometown”, taking the integration of culture and tourism as the driving force, and continuously promoting the upgrading of the tourism industry. Events such as the “Tianma Wings · Leading the Way” 2025 and Beautiful Village · Yili Horse Performance Test Series and the “Pastoral Song of Zhaosu · Tianma Hometown” Horse King Competition (the third Yili Horse Super League in Zhaosu) are held throughout the year. High-standard events such as the 2025 “Silk Road” China Super Equestrian Orienteering Endurance Race · Zhaosu Station and the 2025 WKG&M-1 Fighting Championship (Zhaosu Station) are also held to expand the “Tourism +” diversified business forms, continuously promoting the development of the tourism industry in Zhaosu County and continuously enhancing the brand effect of “Pastoral Song of Zhaosu · Tianma Hometown”.
