Tibetans flock to ethnic games event

LHASA — Though Migmar Qungda, a 76-year-old herder, spent an entire morning moving between several competition areas at the Lhasa Sports and Cultural Center on a recent Sunday, he said he believed that his day-long hitchhiking journey to the venue was totally worthwhile.

The senior lives in Palgon county, Nagchu city, which is about 360 kilometers away from Lhasa, capital of the Xizang autonomous region. He enjoys playing xiuzi, a strategic Tibetan dice game, and jiren, a traditional Tibetan board game.

"I am very good at those games and have been playing them since I was young," Migmar Qungda said. "When I learned that Lhasa was hosting the Farmers and Herders Games with my favorite events included, I decided to come and watch. The games offer our herders a chance to participate in sports and compete. My two sons will take care of our cattle in my absence."