Horsemen follow in steppes of Genghis Khan

Breeders and racers are keeping alive the culture and history of the golden line of equines used by the conquering Mongol

Editor's note: As the People's Republic of China prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary on Oct 1, China Daily is featuring a series of stories on the role regions have played in the country's development and where they are today.

Moments before the flag waved to start the race, the atmosphere was tense. Dozens of horses and their riders milled around anxiously, jockeying for position at the starting line.