Yak racing is a traditional sport of the Tibetans. It has elements of danger like horse racing. Anyhow the exciting scene and the happy air of Yak racing express the other aspect of it that the Tibetans desire for and pursue a happy life. And sometimes the mountainous areas in Mongolian also have the yak rating.

The yaks live generally in the high and cold pastures, so they are good at walking on the steep and cliffy mountains or the snow slopes but not at long of tance running. Beside they are wildly rough, so in competition they shoulder and fight each other, or jump and give a backward kick. And some yaks are startled because of the loud cheers from the spectators to turn round and return back which makes the race more wonderful, exciting, and en|oyful.

Whenever the tradttional festfval-Wangguo Festival of the Tibetans comes in middle summer, the old city Lhasa welcomes the yak racers from different regions It is usually carried out by the experienced herdsmen with the bad-tempered yaks. It was held on 25, November and now it is held on the Wangguo Festival (before autumn harvest) in the pastures or half pastures areas. After the foundation of the People's Republic of China, the game has developed greatly. More people have been in it and the distance of the race has been lengthened to 2, 000 meters. The places in race are decided according to the time used. On the very day, the herdsmen dress up themselves and take part in the annual yak racing happily with the highland barley and the buttered tea, beef and mutton. At the beginning, the race was held in the districts or the towns and usually there were 50-60 yaks in the race. And now the race is held among the villages and there are more than 150 yaks in the race. The first ten will be awarded. The results have been improved a lot after the time record is adopted. In general it will take about 8 minutes for a yak to cover 2, 000 meters.

Every yak is dressed up beautifully before race: it has red tassels on the head, colorful silk on the horns, gaily-colored ribbons on the ears and the fan-shaped Tibetan patterns on the tail. All these symbolizes lucky and contented and the yak is about to win the first place in the race. After race, the heroes will gain respect from the local masses when they win and return home. The yak that wins in the race is famous in the locals and enjoys special treatment from his master.