Chinese ethnic minorities celebrate traditional new year festivals

Villagers compete in a tug of war in Chusong Village of Nyarixung Township in Xigaze City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Jan. 17, 2018. In Xigaze and other farming regions of Tibet, people celebrate New Year on the 1st day of the twelfth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. According to local farming tradition, spring ploughing season always begins as the fall of New Year, thus celebrating one month earlier is to meet the needs of local agriculture. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)