EnchantingGuangxi | Grand Song of the Dong ethnic group thrives with tradition & innovation in S China's Guangxi

NANNING, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- As the most populous county for the Dong ethnic group in China, Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is renowned for the colorful culture of the Dong people. Chengyang Eight Villages, a 5A or top-level tourist attraction in the county, well preserves the traditional Dong culture in terms of architecture, folk arts and lifestyles.

The Grand Song of the Dong ethnic group boasts a rich history as a unique form of a folk chorus performed without the aid of musical instruments or a lead singer. Through its beautiful melody, the choir conveys different stories, emotions and insightful lyrics. It was inscribed on the World Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2009.

In recent years, with the development of rural tourism and better infrastructure, an increasing number of tourists have visited the village to relish the enchanting performances of the Grand Song.

Wu Chunyue, 37, an inheritor of Grand Song of the Dong ethnic group, has been working on the innovation of the choir by integrating traditional musical instruments with modern music elements and innovating performance forms. Besides, Wu always does farm work and communicates with local villagers and tourists to obtain inspiration from life. Her efforts have drawn more and more attention from young audience to get to the Dong culture.

Coordinators: Wang Qingqin, Meng Chenguang, Xiang Zhiqiang

Photographer: Zhang Ailin■