2025 China Indigenous Folk Song Festival Begins in Hohhot

On July 3rd, the 2025 China Indigenous Folk Song Festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, commenced in Hohhot, located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Key figures at the event included Wang Lixia, Chairwoman of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; Rao Quan, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism and Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration; and Bao Gang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Party Committee and Secretary of the Hohhot Municipal Party Committee.

The festival began with vibrant pastoral melodies. The opening performance highlighted a series of beautifully choreographed segments such as "Chao Le Long Ge," "Tian Ye Huan Ge," "Shan He Fang Ge," and "Shi Dai Zan Ge," where participants conveyed their affection for life, their homeland, and their nation through song. The audience was treated to a rich experience of the unique allure of indigenous folk songs from different regions, enhanced by engaging duet performances.

This year's festival, themed "Natural Melodies and Folk Song Sentiments," attracted nearly 400 performers from 65 teams across the country. The schedule included 42 national-level intangible cultural heritage representative projects alongside 23 provincial-level projects, showcasing a mix of famous traditional folk songs and innovative adaptations. This diverse program highlights the success of efforts to innovate while preserving and developing the intangible cultural heritage of traditional Chinese music.

During the festival, performing teams from various regions will join forces with local Ulaanqab riding troupes. These collaborations will travel to cities such as Hohhot, Ulaanqab, and Ordos, delivering six main performances and eight grassroots community shows in local squares, educational institutions, pastoral areas, scenic locations, and neighborhoods. This initiative aims to create a series of rich audiovisual experiences for both residents and visitors.

The festival will culminate in a grand closing performance scheduled for July 6th in Hohhot.