Kevin Frayer has spent years documenting the daily life and challenges of Tibetan nomads. His stunning body of work captures the traditions and identity of a people rooted in a nomadic lifestyle, living on lush grasslands. In July, Frayer also documented one of the festivals that is sponsored by the local government in Yushu County, Qinghai, China.
China has ruled Tibet since 1959; a Tibetan government in exile in northern India claims sovereignty over the region. Tibetan nomads’ traditional way of life faces challenges including political pressures, forced resettlement by the Chinese government, climate change and rapid modernization.
Ethnic Tibetans in traditional dress wait to perform at a local government sponsored festival. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)Tibetan Buddhist monks sit on a carousel on the Tibetan Plateau in Yushu County, Qinghai, China. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)A Tibetan nomad uses a prayer wheel. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)Ethnic Tibetans wearing traditional costume dance on July 25, 2015 perform at a local government sponsored festival on the Tibetan Plateau in Yushu County, Qinghai, China. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)A Tibetan nomad wears a picture of the Buddha on his back before racing his horse. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)A Tibetan nomad burns juniper as a ritual to cleanse his horse for good luck before racing at a local government sponsored festival in Yushu County, Qinghai, China. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)Young Buddhist novice monks play at a Tibetan nomadic summer grazing area in Yushu County, Qinghai, China. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)A Tibetan Buddhist monk leaps while playing basketball with friends at a school in a government resettlement community for former nomads. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)A Tibetan girl plays as nomads watch traditional dancing on July 25, 2015 government sponsored festival on the Tibetan Plateau in Yushu County, Qinghai, China. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)An ethnic Tibetan nomad performs skills during a riding competition at a local festival on July 26, 2015. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)A Tibetan nomad carries a China flag while waiting to perform skills during a riding competition at a government sponsored local festival. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)A nomad dressed in Yak costume waits to perform at a local government sponsored festival on the Tibetan Plateau in Yushu County, Qinghai, China. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)A Tibetan woman wears traditional clothing during a local government sponsored festival on the Tibetan Plateau in Yushu County, Qinghai, China. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)A Tibetan nomad woman stands with her Yak herd at their summer grazing area. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)A Tibetan man wearing traditional costume man smokes during a government sponsored festival. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)A Tibetan nomad woman stands on the Tibetan Plateau with her grandchildren at their summer grazing area in Yushu County, Qinghai, China. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)A young Tibetan Buddhist novice monk stands with his yak herd at the family’s nomadic summer grazing area on July 24, 2015 on the Tibetan Plateau in Yushu County, Qinghai, China. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
