Tibet sees another tourism surge during Shoton Festival

BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- "Since the opening of the Shoton Festival, I have had more business and I can make dozens of yuan more each day," said Qiangba who rides a pedicab and is waiting for customers with other pedicab riders at Norbu Lingka, in the western suburbs of Lhasa.

"So many people came for the year鈥榮 Shoton Fesitval," said Qiangba.

銆Tourists take part in the activities of the Shoton Festival held in Zhaibung Monastery, southwest China鈥榮 Tibet Autonomous Region, Aug. 21, 2009. (Xinhua/Gaesang Dawa)

This year鈥榮 Shoton Festival, or Yorgut Festival, started on Aug. 20 and ended on Wednesday. It is one of the most important festivals in Tibet.

Before the 17th century, Shoton was an exclusively religious observance. Nowadays it features a wide variety of activities including the performance of the Tibetan opera, fireworks display, beer festival and horse racing.

Tibet has already posted a surge in the number of visitors before the opening of the annul festival.