A visitor snaps pictures of an exhibition showing the region's history of using horses, at the Baotou Horse Culture Museum. [Photo/Baotou Evening News]

The Baotou Horse Culture Museum – situated in Saikhantal Urban Grassland in Baotou city – takes visitors on an immersive experience of horse culture.

The museum is open to the public free of charge. More than 500 horse harnesses, horse sculptures and horse-themed artworks – dating from the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century - 771 BC) to modern times – are collected at the museum.

Due to modern society's high-tech development, horses seem to be fading from people's lives and production activities, but they played a crucial role in the history of Chinese civilization.

A bit, riding whip and harnesses are auxiliary devices used to control horses while ensuring the comfort and safety of riders. [Photo/Baotou Evening News]

The museum's horse-themed restaurant includes a performance venue. The songs, dances, stage plays and melodramas performed here showcase horse culture for visitors.

"In the Saikhantal Urban Grassland, we not only take children to experience horse riding, but also learn about horse culture in the museum. It is really great," said a tourist who gave her name as Ms Wang.

"We started receiving visitors on June 18 and have now welcomed over 100,000 in nearly three months," said Li Yan, director of the Baotou Horse Culture Museum.