Inner Mongolia's Naadam festival draws locals and visitors alike, Fang Aiqing in Xiliinhot and Yuan Hui in Hohhot report.

Strength and agility, courage and strategy, free spirits and tenderness — Naadam celebrations across North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region are a vivid expression of Mongolian culture, drawing locals and visitors alike throughout the summer.

Naadam, meaning "games" or "entertainment" in Mongolian, is one of the most emblematic folk festivals of the Mongolian ethnic group and recognized as national intangible cultural heritage. Traditionally featuring Bokh (Mongolian-style wrestling), horse racing and archery competitions, the festival is a time-honored celebration of strength, tradition and community. The earliest documented records of Naadam can be traced back 800 years.