HOHHOT, China, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- A three-day winter Nadam featuring an international skiing event kicked off on Saturday in West Ujimqin Banner (county) of Xilin Gol League, a pastoral area of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Local nomads and visitors will participate in a series of sports events, such as archery, horse racing, camel racing, Mongolian wrestling as well as an international skiing contest sponsored by Federation International de Ski.

Nadam is a mass traditional Mongolian festival where people celebrate harvests and pray for good luck.

It is usually held throughout the pastoral areas in the summer or in the winter on the snow-covered grassland, and has a history of more than 700 years.