Xi's Inner Mongolia visit left a deep impression

Editor's note: Before the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China Daily journalists traveled to three places President Xi Jinping has visited to discover how local people's lives have improved over the past decade.

When President Xi Jinping was about to make a visit over a few days to the Inner Mongolia autonomous region eight years ago, it seemed all but inevitable that he would eventually find himself in the close company of wrestlers, archers and horses.

After all, wrestling, archery and horse riding and racing are activities that are regarded as hallmarks of the region. They also play a central role in the winter Nadam Fair, which is held each year in the city of Xiliinhot and was an event on Xi's itinerary. The fair's origins go back 700 years.