The first grand Tibetan folk-culture tourism festival, lasting for about five months, will be held from August 6 through the end of November.

It is jointly sponsored by the National Tourism Administration and the people's government of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and will be undertaken by the local government of Shigatse, according to the information office of the people's government of Tibet.

The festival will feature activities like an arts festival, an azalea flower show and horse racing.

The event will be held annually by different regions in Tibet from now on, according to sources.

( China Daily July 23, 2002)