Yulin hosts innovative folk song celebration

A choir brings the rich tradition of folk songs to life at the 2025 Northern Shaanxi Folk Song Choir Festival in Yulin. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2025 Northern Shaanxi Folk Song Choir Festival, held from Sept 6 to 9 in Yulin, Shaanxi province, showcased a series of captivating performances that breathed new life into traditional music.

A highlight of the festival was the grassroots performance on Sept 7, where 15 choirs from across the country brought the rich melodies of Northern Shaanxi folk songs to life.

The festival also featured a diverse array of styles. The Inner Mongolia Normal University choir stood out with their rendition of a Shanxi folk song, which blended the vastness of the grasslands with a unique local character.

The Yulin Poly Theatre hosted two rounds of performances, featuring 30 outstanding choirs from across the country. Both local groups and visiting choirs delivered professional performances, revitalizing traditional music through innovative choral arrangements.

A choir performs at the 2025 Northern Shaanxi Folk Song Choir Festival in Yulin. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Meng Weidong, an advisor to the Chinese Musicians Association, emphasized Yulin's significant role in the Northern Shaanxi folk song domain, noting that many important folk songs originated there. He highlighted the festival's crucial role in promoting the preservation and development of folk songs within China's choral scene.

The festival also served as a platform for cultural dialogue, connecting different regions through shared musical memories. Sun Jingjing, a conductor from the Art Ensemble of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, expressed her surprise at Yulin's lush greenery and well-preserved ancient city charm.

She noted that the choral renditions of Northern Shaanxi folk songs capture the essence of local culture and provide a valuable opportunity for choral enthusiasts to exchange ideas.

A choir revives the tradition of folk songs at the choir festival in Yulin. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]