TAIYUAN, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- On a bluestone road, performers in ancient Chinese costume charge on horses, stretching their arms and shouting all the way through.
Audiences stand shoulder to shoulder by the road and on rooftops alongside the ancient alley, cheering with loud drum beats.
The performance was held Wednesday at Xiadongzhai Village, in the city of Yangquan in north China's Shanxi Province.
"It is a custom that has lasted for over a thousand years, and represents the martial spirit," said Yuan Yuxiang, Party secretary of the village.
Back in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Xiadongzhai Village was a military relay station, where army messengers got food, shelter and spare horses before they moved on to the next destination.
The process of transferring horses and leaving the station was later adapted into a folk performance that is held every year, a day after China's Lantern Festival.
Many are attracted by the boldness and skills of the horse riders. They use no saddles or stirrups during the speedy charge.
Over the years, the activity becomes the most celebrated event in the village.
"No matter how faraway people are from home, or how busy they are, they try their best to return home for the fair on that day," Yuan said.
This year, nearly 10,000 people gathered at the road 100 meters long and 4 meters wide for watching the event.
However, the custom was once on the brink of being lost.
The village with around 300 people raised funds for the event mostly from villagers, who found it harder and harder to afford.
Luckily, as the event's fame spread, tourists brought in more revenue for the village.
"At last year's event, I sold all the goods in my store in less than half a day," said Li Haixia, a villager who opened her grocery in 2017. This year, she is considering opening a restaurant.
To further boost tourism, the village held activities during last year's seven-day National Day holiday.
"More than 10,000 people visited the village, which exceeded my expectation," Yuan said.
The local township also supported their cause by buying horses, building race tracks and setting up professional horse-riding teams.
"In the past, the event extended the villagers wishes for a bumper harvest year," Yuan said. "But now it has become a signature for the ancient village and brings real money for the villagers."
