Ninety-five percent of the world's population of yaks live on the Tibetan plateau. In many places, the yak plays an important part in supporting people's livelihoods. Perhaps, for the people living on the Roof of the World, the yak plays an even more important role. Yaks are used to transport people and cargo; warm clothes are made from their wool; their milk and meat provide food; and even their dung are used for fuel. Not to mention how important yaks are in plowing the field.

While yaks are dependable domesticated animal, they are also surprisingly fast runners, especially in sprints. On the Tibetan plateau, in Qinghai and Mongolia, yak races are a popular form of local entertainment.

The luck of the draw

Yak races are usually arranged as side events to, for example, horse races. These races are an indispensable part of festivals, such as the Khanggai Mountain festival that takes place near Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur lake in the beginning of August. Apart from yak races, there are yak rodeos, milking competitions and a yak beauty contest.

Another important annual yak event is the Yushu horse and yak races in Tibet's Batang area in July. Tens of thousands of people, all in colorful attire, gather in the center of the steppes. They pitch white tents and enjoy the joyous market atmosphere and the excitement of the competitions. The main event is the horse races, but it wouldn't feel like much of a celebration without the yaks.

In horse racing, skill and speed determine the winner, but in yak races, luck plays a very important part. Yaks have not been domesticated much in the same way as horses, so they can be quite unpredictable. Many yak races have ended at places other than the finish line, since a yak can decide to stop and eat or go off in a completely different direction. But these surprises are what makes the yak races so interesting. The point after all, is to have fun and winning isn't the top priority at all.

Ecotourism at its finest

Yaks thrive in high altitudes. (Image: China News Service)Yaks are surging in importance in many places in China because of the help it provides. On the other hand, jaded tourists who have seen it all are looking for even more exotic experiences. These tourists are willing to visit the most remote places in search of the next great attraction. In Tibet as well as in Mongolia, yak races have become an alternative to the tried and true tourist spots. Yak safaris are very popular, and are becoming an important source of income to the locals who depend on tourism. And of course, nothing says you've been to these places more than a picture of you seated on top of a huge, furry yak.

The Mongolians have also successfully mixed sports and tourism. Enter sarlagan, or yak polo, which attracts a large number of foreigners. Another extreme yak sport is yak skiiing. It's not that amazing for the Finns, though, who have invented the sport of reindeer- and horse skiing a long time ago.