China's 10th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities opened on Sunday with colourful traditional music and dance performances.

A total of 6,240 athletes from 31 provinces and ethnic groups - including teams from Tibet, Mongolia, Taiwan and the Chinese military - will compete in a variety of traditional sporting events like "bamboo drifting" and "camel ball". It will be held for nine days in the city of Ordos, Inner Mongolia.

There are 17 competitive events and up to 178 demonstrations of athletic skill, according to state media.

With participants from the Hui, Zhuang, Uygur, Yi and Miao ethnic groups, among others, the Games emphasise cultural unity rather than fierce competition, and it mimics the Olympic tradition of holding torch relays to begin the event.

This year for the first time, athletes from the Han ethnic group are allowed to participate in team events - though in a limited number.

The quadrennial fixture's history dates back to November 1953, when the first Games were held in Tianjin featuring sports like weightlifting, boxing and wrestling.