The 13th Hexigten Winter Tourism Festival -- an event promoting Inner Mongolia autonomous region as a winter tourism destination in North China -- kicked off in the Dalinuo'er Lake Natural Ecological Reserve in Hexigten Banner in the city of Chifeng on Jan 5.

The festival runs to Jan 8 and it has as its theme “Ethnic Unity, Culture and Tourism Integration.”

Officials said it aims to build a tourism brand in Hexigten Banner that integrates ice and snow sightseeing, folk customs sampling, photography and winter sports.

Activities during the event feature the Dalinuo'er Lake winter fishing festival, the winter camel culture festival and the third Ulan Butung Grassland horse culture photography festival.

In addition, rich ice and snow entertainment activities have been launched, offering tourists the chance to participate in ice marathons or try out ice sleighs, as well as to watch camel and horse riding competitions and others.

A Mongolian style dance performance is staged at the opening ceremony of the 13th Hexigten Winter Tourism Festival on Jan 5. [Photo/Xinhua]

A camel riding performance is staged at the opening ceremony of the 13th Hexigten Winter Tourism Festival in the Dalinuo'er Lake Natural Ecological Reserve. [Photo/Xinhua]