A grand performance parade is held at the opening ceremony for the 17th Inner Mongolia Grassland Culture Festival in Hohhot. [Photo/people.cn]

The 17th Inner Mongolia Grassland Cultural Festival kicked off in Hohhot, capital city of North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Aug 8, according to local officials.

Established in 2004, the festival is dedicated to promoting ethnic customs through artistic performances. It has a theme of “the feast of art and the people’s festival”, and will run until Aug 20.

During the event, a total of 14 programs featuring performance carnivals, square dance competitions and singing competitions will take place in both online and offline activities.

At the opening ceremony on Aug 8, a grand performance parade was staged with 1,600 performers participating. 

"This year is the first time that we have conducted a grassland cultural festival in the form of mass parade, so that more people can participate in and experience our cultural services, and at the same time meet their cultural needs," said Yun Liqin, deputy director of the publicity department of the Hohhot municipal Party committee.