To mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the local residents hosted a grand festival to showcase their material wealth, as well as the spirit of unity and progress of all ethnic groups in the region.

As part of the 2025 Xinjiang Ili Tianma Cultural Tourism Festival which opened on July 19 in Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture, over 10,000 horses were released, letting them gallop freely on the Karkant grassland to showcase the local material prosperity. The Kazak horses are known as "'Heavenly Horses" (Tianma) with both strength and speed as a superior breed.

With the theme "70 Years of Splendor in Tianshan, 10,000 Horses Galloping toward the Future", the grand event opened at the Tianma Tourism and Culture Park in Zhaosu county, exhibiting local material prosperity, as well as social progress and unity of all ethnic groups.

Accompanied by the song "Ode to the Red Flag", eight flag bearers solemnly escorted the national flag of the People's Republic of China into the venue.

The opening ceremony of the festival was set against the backdrop of the majestic Tianshan Mountains and the vast grassland, with cultural performances comprising three chapters focusing on the ancient and the new Silk Road, and a finale.

Crosstalk artist Feng Gong, along with his several disciples, incorporated elements of Xinjiang cuisine, Ili's beautiful scenery, and the name Zhaosu into the crosstalk performance, drawing rounds of applause and laughter from the audience. It was followed by a series of other artistic performances. Experts also jointly introduced the famous horses of Zhaosu to the audience.

The opening ceremony also featured a series of dances and equestrian shows, demonstrating the lively spirit of all ethnic groups in Zhaosu, and adding a brilliant touch to the event.

During the event, Abilian Abulihaiyir, deputy secretary of the CPC Zhaosu County Committee and the county's magistrate, presented the certificate of honorary citizen to Yu Shi, and the ambassadorship certificates for promoting theTianma culture of Xinjiang Ili to Feng Gong, Zhao Wenzhuo, Jia Xuming, Xiong Linlin, Cao Suifeng, Mu Qimiya and Aoriqileng.

In recent years, Zhaosu has deeply explored the unique tourism resources of the "Hometown of China's Tianma", taking the integration of culture and tourism as a driving force, and continuously promoting the upgrade of the tourism industry.

Events such as the "Tianma Wings · Leading the Way" 2025 and Beautiful Village · Ili Horse Performance Test Series and the "Pastoral Song of Zhaosu · Tianma Hometown" Horse King Competition (the third Ili Horse Super League in Zhaosu) are held throughout the year.

In addition, high-end events such as the 2025 "Silk Road" China Super Equestrian Orienteering Endurance Race · Zhaosu Station and the 2025 WKG&M-1 Fighting Championship (Zhaosu Station) are also held to expand the "Tourism Plus" business forms, continuously promoting the development of the local tourism industry and continuously enhancing the brand effect of the "Hometown of China's Tianma".