Musicians in traditional Mongolian clothing play the morin khuur at the opening ceremony for the 1st China (Inner Mongolia) Morin Khuur Art Festival held in Hohhot, capital of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Aug 23. [Photo/nm.people.com]

The opening ceremony for the 1st China (Inner Mongolia) Morin Khuur Art Festival was held in Hohhot, capital of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Aug 23. The art festival is a part of the 2nd China Horse Culture Festival.

The morin khuur, or horsehead fiddle, is a traditional Mongolian folk instrument.

According to local authorities, the festival is aimed at promoting the culture of the Mongolian ethnic group, the preservation of the morin khuur and Mongolian horse culture, and cultural exchanges among countries along the ancient Silk Road.

The festival will run until Sept 8, and will feature 15 concerts, several international academic forums on the preservation and promotion of morin khuur art, the 2019 China (Inner Mongolia) Morin Khuur Competition, and an activity in which morin khuur music pieces will be collected.

The 15 concerts will be attended by over 200 morin khuur performers from China, Mongolia and Russia's Republic of Tuva and Republic of Buryatia.