A colorful and elegant dance sequence is staged at the opening ceremony of the ninth Inner Mongolia Ulan Muqir Art Festival on Aug 8. [Photo by Ding Genhou/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Adding exciting cultural fun and frolics to the grassland, the ninth Inner Mongolia Ulan Muqir Art Festival officially kicked off in the Horqin Right Wing Front Banner of Hinggan League – located in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region – on Aug 8.

The festival is scheduled to last eight days and run to Aug 15.

Ulan Muqir means "red bud" in Mongolian and the art troupe travels from one site to another, performing for herdsmen who live in some of China's most remote areas.

A rousing dance takes place at the opening ceremony. [Photo by Ding Genhou/for chinadaily.com.cn]

During the event, six activities will that fully display the development achievements made by the Ulan Muqir art troupe over the past five years will be staged.

They will include an opening ceremony, theatrical performances, a seminar on the reform and development of the Ulan Muqir art troupe and a grand closing ceremony.

The Ulan Muqir art troupe will also go deep into the fields and pastures and travel to industrial and mining companies to deliver colorful and fun performances and offer a feast of culture to ordinary folks.

Yet another exciting dance performance is staged at the opening ceremony. [Photo by Ding Genhou/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Additionally, to further promote the in-depth integration of the league's culture and its tourism, the Hinggan League Nadaam will be held simultaneously. Among the highlights will be food tastings, music, poetry, horse riding, archery and Mongolian wrestling.

Elegant moves abound at a dance performance, which is staged at the opening ceremony. [Photo by Ding Genhou/for chinadaily.com.cn]