Held around the 5th day of the 5th lunar month (on 23 June 2012 this year), the annual Shangri-La Horse Racing Festival is one of the most looked forward to festivals celebrating the Tibetan culture in SW China. The festival includes not just a sporting competition showcasing expert horsemanship, but also attracts colourful ethnic groups from near and far in their most elaborate costumes to sing and dance almost non-stop for 3 days and 3 nights.