Scenic view on the grassland of North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Photo: VCG

In the swordsman novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes by Louis Cha Leung-yung (more widely known by his pen name Jin Yong), the hero Guo Jing first learned the art of Mongolian wrestling on the grasslands, a skill that allowed him to hold his own against Ouyang Feng on Peach Blossom Island. At the Naadam Festival of the Mongolian ethnic group in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, anyone can become Guo Jing - wrestling under the vast sky, rolling in the grass, and drawing strength from the earth itself.

Chopping, sweeping, knee strikes, collar grabs... a bokh match, also known as Mongolian wrestling, was unfolding along the Yellow River, at the 2025 Naadam Festival in the Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, which kicked off on Saturday. The two competitors, resembling male camels locked in battle, stepped into a hand-drawn circle with dance-like grace. They bowed to the audience before engaging in the contest,  in which age, venue, time, and weight are no constraints - a single takedown determines the victor.

Such an inclusive and open spirit of competition is one of the reasons Alatengwula is so deeply devoted to bokh. As a national-level intangible cultural heritage inheritor of one kind of bokh, this wrestler, now in his 60s, still steps into the ring from time to time. In his words, wrestling "brings me good fortune because it allows me to roll on the soil of my homeland. The land is our roots, and our source of energy."

A deep attachment to the land is one of the defining traits of cultures nurtured by the Yellow River. Whether rooted in farming or pastoral nomadism, both traditions draw creative inspiration from nature and the earth itself. This sentiment resonates with Narilai, a national-level inheritor of shatar, or Mongolian chess - another form of intangible cultural heritage that can be experienced during the Naadam Festival - when he contemplates the chess pieces shaped like horses, camels, and other animals on the board.

On the same grasslands, bokh wrestling and Mongolian chess - one martial, one intellectual; one dynamic, one serene - offer contrasting yet kindred traditions. Scattered across different corners of the Naadam Festival, these two unique practices and other events such as camel racing, each with its own spirit but shared roots, enrich this ethnic celebration, which was recognized as a national-level intangible cultural heritage in China as early as 2006.

Two men compete in a bokh match, also known as Mongolian wrestling, at the Naadam Festival. Photo: VCG

Staying lively

As the grasslands reach their most beautiful season, Naadam festivals unfold one after another across the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Whether it is a grand, region-wide celebration or a smaller gathering organized by local herders, people come together from all directions to experience the grassland culture embodied in every event.

On the racetrack of the 2025 Naadam Festival in the Xilingol League, young riders galloped barefoot, their bodies nearly paralleled to the horses' backs as they shot across the grasslands like arrows loosed from a bow. In the archery zone, master archers drew their bows to full tension, the air filled with the sharp whistle of arrows slicing through the sky. Meanwhile, on the wrestling field, bokh wrestlers locked in fierce combat, each spectacular shoulder throw meeting with thunderous cheers from the crowd.

Among the competitors at the Naadam was Lavell Marshall, a world champion and five-time US national champion in wrestling. He is no stranger to this land.

This is his second year participating in Naadam, and he feels the energy more than ever. 

"It's definitely bigger than last year. The weather's great, the vibe is strong, and there are so many more people," Marshall told the Global Times. "You can really see more folks getting interested - not just in the matches, but in the culture behind them."

For Marshall, wrestling here is more than a sport; it's a way of connecting with history and community. "Last year I think I made it to the fourth round, but I don't focus on that. I take it one match at a time. It's not just about winning - it's about putting on a good show, sharing the energy, and respecting the tradition," the wrestler said.  

Outside the arena, Alatengwula watched the tense back-and-forth of the competitors with a smile. Even though he is now just the organizer of the wrestling events at the Naadam for the Alxa League in Inner Mongolia, Alatengwula still feels his blood race for this national intangible cultural heritage. He shares the same understanding as Marshall. Bokh wrestling is not about winning or losing, but about demonstrating courage and wisdom. Even when facing a stronger opponent, one must have the bravery to compete - and the skill to prevail.

At the Naadam Festival, one can also see a rider astride a tall, chestnut horse galloping past the wrestling grounds, while just ahead, inside a nearby yurt, another fierce contest was underway. Here, the arena was a chessboard of 64 squares, where two players command 32 pieces each, battling wits to determine victory or defeat within the span of around one hour.

The battle of wisdom on the grasslands shares many similarities with chess, but also incorporates elements and rules from Mongolian tradition. The 32 chess pieces are divided into two sides in Mongolian chess, each consisting of a king, a queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns. Besides some differences in rules, what sets Mongolian chess apart is its unique design: Bishops are carved as camels, and pawns as hunting dogs, reflecting the essence of nomadic life.

"The intense wrestling matches at Naadam are certainly captivating, but Mongolian chess is equally worth watching," Narilai told the Global Times. He often serves as a referee for Mongolian chess tournaments at Naadam and has witnessed highly skilled 8-year-old students compete against adults. 

Much like bokh wrestling, Mongolian chess welcomes players with both courage and strategy, celebrating not just victory but the spirit of the game itself.

Why does the Naadam, which has endured for centuries, still possess such strong vitality?

"The Naadam Festival consists of a variety of intangible cultural heritages. These programs do not merely showcase the traditional culture and skills of the Mongolian ethnic group, but also reflect profound ethnic spirit and cultural connotations," Haobisigalatu, an associate professor at Minzu University of China, told the Global Times, emphasizing that the influence of Yellow River culture serves as one of vital and enduring sources of inspiration for Naadam, a grand celebration of intangible cultural heritage.

The irrigation provided by the Yellow River has transformed the area into a transitional zone where agriculture and pastoralism coexist, creating a unique cultural landscape. Moreover, the integration of agricultural culture from the Yellow River region with the nomadic traditions of grassland culture has given rise to a richer and more diverse cultural heritage, the expert explained. Intangible cultural heritages such as bokh wrestling, Mongolian chess, and the Naadam Festival are all products of this fusion.

Herdsmen compete in the horse racing event at the Naadam Festival. Photo: VCG

Setting off from Naadam

The Naadam Festival may have an end date, but the essence of Naadam culture is deeply embedded in local life. In Inner Mongolia, wherever the grasslands stretch, the spirit and vitality inspired by events including wrestling, horse racing, archery, and chess from Naadam remain ever-present.

Narilai has introduced Mongolian chess as part of regular classes at elementary schools in the Alxa League since 2013. From the first grade, each class has one lesson every week to teach students how to play Mongolian chess.

"It is not just students," Narilai explained. 

"After the new semester begins, parents from at least three classes also participate in Mongolian chess training sessions. These sessions aim to teach the basics of the game and highlight its benefits, thereby raising awareness and engagement among parents."

Nowadays, more people are playing chess, particularly a growing number of young players. These students have shown a deep interest in the game. Every year, Narilai also takes part in organizing Mongolian chess tournaments. As he gently rubs the intricately carved chess pieces between his fingers and watches generation after generation of students deeply immersed in strategizing their next moves, Narilai sees a bright future for this ancient game of strategy. 

Once accustomed to wrestling with lambs and calves in the sheep pens and cattle yards, Alatengwula has long since become a national champion. He has now organized and planned six international competitions, taking the traditional Mongolian wrestling techniques, a treasured intangible cultural heritage, beyond the Naadam Festival.

"We welcome friends from all ethnic backgrounds to participate in this sport. Through wrestling, we build connections and share emotions. No matter where you are from or which ethnicity you belong to, you can earn your own applause on the wrestling field," said Alatengwula.

Therefore, Marshall came to the wrestling field from the US with feelings of "stepping into living history" and was amazed that "this tradition is now reaching people far beyond its roots."

Therefore, the scholar Haobisigalatu believed the intangible cultural heritages of Naadam has become an important window to learn about Yellow River cultures and a vital platform for international exchanges.