THE 2011 Shoton Festival kicks off today and will last until Sept. 4 in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The festival is an authentic Tibetan Buddhism event. More than 10,000 Tibetan Buddhists will gather at the Drepung Monastery in Lhasa to worship the Buddha with a series of traditional ceremonies and activities. The festival has the status of intangible cultural heritage in China. The summer event is for anybody who is interested in this unspoilt and mysterious place.

    Buddha tangka

    The display of the Buddha tangka is the festival’s biggest and most important ceremony. The tangka is kept in the Drepung Monastery and is moved out of the monastery once a year to be worshipped by people.

    At the opening ceremony, the ceremony of worshipping Buddha tangka starts at about 7: 30 a.m. with more than 100 robust young lamas carrying the colorful tangka painting of the Buddha. The painting weighs about 3 tons and was first made about hundreds of years ago.

    At about 8 a.m., the painting, covering an area of 500 meters, will be opened and more than 10,000 Buddhists and visitors will kneel down and worship it.

    Tibetan opera

    Performances of Tibetan opera are possibly the most unmissable part of the festival.

    Tibetan opera has a history of more than 600 years and most of the operas are influenced by Buddhist mythology as well as Tibetan history. Actors dress in colorful costume with specially made masks.

    Since the second day of the festival, nearly 20 Tibetan opera troupes from several provinces in China will gather to perform at Dragon King Lake Park in front of the Potala Palace.

    The troupes will perform from 11 a.m. until late at night throughout the festival.

    Many Tibetan families will sit in the park with self-made Tibetan snacks and buttered tea to enjoy the performances.

    Horse racing

    Horse racing is another key activity. The seven-day activity has become a cultural event featuring not only horse racing, but also trading, cultural performances and sports.

    Apart from horse racing, there are also competitions such as Khatag picking on the horse, rock lifting and Guozhuang dance. Guozhuang dance is a popular traditional Tibetan dance. It is very popular among young Tibetans because it provides people with the chance to get to know each other.

    Hiking along Nam Lake

    The Nam Lake international hiking event is also part of the festival, and will take place from Sept. 5 to 9. Hikers from around the world will walk from Lhasa to Nam Lake over four days.

    Nam Lake is one of three holy lakes in Tibet. The lake is located at 4,718 meters above the sea and is the largest lake in Tibet. It is famous for its height and its evocative scenery.

    The hiking activity is an attempt to promote environmental protection and charity. Hikers can also visit the glacier research station at Nam Lake.

    Transport: Fly to Lhasa from Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.

    Accommodation: There is a wide selection of hotels and hostels in Lhasa. (Wang Yuanyuan)