Recently I attended a Nadam celebration in Beijing. Nadam is one of the most important Mongolian festivals. Beijing’s Nadam celebration was held in the Central Minzu University of China (“Minzu” translates to ethnic minority). At this event I experienced many aspects of traditional Mongolian culture.
Mongolian wrestling
The festival began with the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony started with a dance performed by a group comprising one dancer from each of China’s ethnic groups. After this, there was a performance by a group of horse head instrument players who played some traditional Mongolian music. The horse head instrument is a string instrument with a head that has been carved in the shape of a horse head. I really enjoyed this performance and the sound of the instrument.
After the opening ceremony ended, we walked around the festival site and browsed the many small stalls selling Mongolian products. I tasted Mongolian cuisine including milk tea, steamed buns and mutton pasties. I also bought a pair of cashmere leggings made in Mongolia. I hope these can help me survive the freezing cold winter when I visit Inner Mongolia next year (I plan to go there during the new year).
For the last part of the Nadam celebration there was a Mongolian wrestling competition. Mongolian wrestling is a very distinctive sport. The goal is to force the opponent’s knees to touch the ground, after which he loses the match. In order to be successful, the wrestlers have to both have a lot of skill and be very strong.
At Nadam festival
最近我去了北京的那达慕活动。那达慕是蒙古族最重要的节日之一。北京的那达慕在中央民族大学的操场上举行，在北京的那达慕活动我体验了很多关于蒙古族传统文化的事情。
首先是那达慕的开幕式，在那达慕的开幕式我看了一个由各个民族人一起跳的舞蹈，他们跳得很好看。然后一个拉马头琴的组合表演了一些经典的蒙古音乐曲。马头琴是一种乐器，顾名思义，马头琴的头部是雕刻出来的马头。我特别喜欢这个马头琴组合的表演，觉得他们的音乐很好听。
开幕式结束了以后我们转了转举办那达慕的场地，看到了很多卖着蒙古族产品的摊儿。我尝了尝蒙古族的美食，包括蒙古奶茶、包子和蒙古肉饼。我也买了一条蒙古国产的的羊绒裤。希望我去内蒙古的时候这条羊绒裤能帮我在内蒙古的非常冷的天气中生存下去！
在那达慕的最后的部分有一个摔跤比赛。蒙古族的摔跤是一种很有特色的体育活动。摔跤时摔跤手的膝盖接触了地面，这个摔跤手就算输了。为了得到胜利，摔跤运动员需要又有技巧又很有力气。