Guozigou ranch in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region held various activities on March 21 to mark the Nowruz festival.

The traditional Nowruz festvialmarks the beginning of spring and New Year in the Iranian calendar and is celebrated by those with Kazakh ethnicity in Xinjiang during the spring equinox.

This year, more than 1,000 farmers and herdsmen in Guozigou ranch gathered together at a cultural center to observe the festival.

The celebratory activities started with a traditional Kazakh ritual which sees the respected elderly send their best wishes to participants while handing out candies, milk products and other Kazakh snacks.

During the celebration, artists put on various performances with ethnic characteristics, among which were impressive Kazak dances and songs gained warm applause and cheers from audiences.
 
The ranch's bureaus and departments, including the publicity department and police station, made a public address on production safety issues, social welfare policies and other policies for ethnic groups to help locals know more about their rights and obligations. The health center provided free physical examinations for residents.

According to the local government, the celebration of the festival was aimed at promoting the development and prosperity of ethnic culture and maintaining national unity and social stability.