LHASA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region is planning a host of cultural events for an upcoming traditional festival in the regional capital, Lhasa.

The Shoton Festival, also known as the Yogurt Banquet Festival, is a week-long extravaganza that has been held since the 11th century. It was originally a religious occasion when locals would offer yogurt to monks who had finished meditation retreats.

This year's festival will be held from August 11 to 17, local authorities said Wednesday. The event will feature exhibitions, Tibetan opera performances, equestrian shows and hiking.

In the first half of 2018, Tibet received about 11 million domestic and foreign tourists, generating tourism revenue of about 12.5 billion yuan (1.8 billion U.S. dollars).