2025 China Folk Song Festival Opens in Hohhot

On July 3rd, the 2025 China Folk Song Festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, officially opened in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Attendees included Wang Lixia, Chairwoman of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Rao Quan, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism and Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, and Bao Gang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Party Committee and Secretary of the Hohhot Municipal Party Committee.

The festival commenced with the enchanting melodies of pastoral songs. The opening performance featured well-crafted presentations of pieces like "Chilere Long Ge" (Long Song of Chire), "Tian Ye Huan Ge" (Joyful Songs of the Fields), "Shan He Fang Ge" (Songs of the Mountains and Rivers), and "Shi Dai Zan Ge" (Songs of the Era). Performers expressed their love for life, homeland, and country through song, while the audience deeply appreciated the unique charm of folk songs from various regions during the exciting duet performances.

Under the theme "Original Heavenly Sounds, Chinese Folk Song Affection," the festival attracted nearly 400 participants from 65 teams across the nation. The program showcased 42 nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage (ICH) projects and 23 provincial ICH projects. It featured widely sung classic folk songs as well as innovative adaptations, vividly illustrating the protective achievements of traditional music heritage as it innovates and evolves.

During the festival, performance teams from various regions will collaborate with local Ulanmuqit ensembles, forming smaller teams to engage in outreach performances in Hohhot, Ulanqab, and Ordos. They will bring the festival to public squares, campuses, pastoral areas, scenic sites, and neighborhoods, conducting six concentrated performances and eight grassroots benefit shows, creating an audiovisual feast for urban residents and tourists alike. The closing performance is scheduled to take place on July 6th in Hohhot.