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Kazakh Culture and Traditions

China’s Kazakh herdmen

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Preview of a Chinese documentary The Herdsmen, made in 2000, about the nomadic Kazakhs in China. Most Kazakhs are residing in Kazakhstan; but there are still a large portion which spread across Central Asia and other places.

There are about 1.5 million Kazakhs in China. They are one of the 56 minority ethnics officially recognized by the Chinese government. Only a few of them are still living the nomadic lifestyle though, as shown in the below video…

It’s an ironic thing; on one hand we might envy the freedom of the herdsmen, on another we might feel sorry for the lack of basic development for these folks.

I mean, I would love to stay with these people and enjoy their culture and nature for perhaps a few days, but it’s a different story if it’s for weeks or months.

Hunting with Golden Eagles in Kazakhstan

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Berkutchi, or hunting with Golden Eagles, is a tradition in Central Asia. The unique heritage is still practised by some nomads in the region these days.

Video below shows the hunting activity in Kazakhstan; the eagle is so fierce that it could take on a large animal, e.g. a wolf and mountain goat etc.

China’s Kazak people celebrate folk festival

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The Kazaks in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are celebrating a folk festival with four days of singing and horse racing gala.

Kazak folk festival in China

Most of the Kazaks (also known as Kazakhs or Qazaqs) are living in Kazakhstan and some others in its neighbouring countries, e.g. Russia, Uzbekistan and China etc. There are around 1.4 million Kazaks in China; not really a small population but still considered as a minority tribe among China’s 1.2 billion people.

Kazaks are well known for their fierce love of freedom, skilful horse riding and hunting with semi-domesticated eagles. The image above shows them playing a traditional sport which is a combination of tug-of-war, basketball and horse racing. You might remember this from the Rambo movie. Image via Cri.