Major events of the third Ordos International Nadam Fair kicked off in Ordos, a city in the southwest of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Monday.

The festival is a major event promoting Mongolian ethnic culture in the region. Though some of the total of 70 activities began back in March, the events climaxed this week with a gala curtain-raising for horseracing, a Mongolian chess competition, and a motorcycle race.

Nadam is traditionally the festival and sports meet highlighted by horseracing, archery and wrestling in Mongolian culture, but many new items are added this time. Even dragon boats and beach soccer, for example, have been part of this year's Nadam.

More than 50 teams from all over China and overseas participated in the competitions. Exhibitions, art performances, and trade fairs are also being staged.

The city also began its first international creativity and culture conference on Monday, which holds forums and competitions on crossover cultural creativity and industrial design.