32/37.- Litang Horse Festival, parade

Every day after the authorities speeches takes place a parade were locals show their best outfits. It is a great opportunity to see the traditional clothes of the different tribes in the region.

95 per cent of the population in the Litang area is Tibetan. Chinese authorities are trying to promote this festival among foreigners as a sign of respect for the different cultures in China. This is a risky task. While I was visiting the festival there was brutal police repression during a fight among locals. It led to a riot that ended up with several Tibetans injured. The police had to leave the place in order to prevent even worse incidents. The festival continued without local authorities or police for a while. There was another major incident when the police came back. It lasted only a few minutes, the time it took the Tibetans to kick the policemen out of the place.

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