Songs that shape heritage

Festival brings to life folk music by various ethnic groups to connect the next generations with their history and traditions, Chen Nan reports.

As the sun dips below the distant mountains, the air comes alive with the melodies of traditional instruments. The first notes of the morin khuur — the iconic horse-headed fiddle — rise like a gentle breeze, followed by the deep, resonant voices of Mongolian singers. These timeless songs, passed down through generations, pay homage to the land, the sky, the horses, and the vibrant cycle of life that nomadic herders have lived for centuries.

On Friday, the 2025 China Original Folk Song Festival opened on the Chilechuan Grassland near Hohhot, the capital of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, transporting audiences into the heart of Mongolian culture.

Against a backdrop of vast green plains dotted with traditional yurt camps, they experienced the rich heritage of Mongolian herders, and enjoyed lively folk songs and dances performed by young artists in vibrant festival attire. As night fell, the atmosphere morphed into a cross-country journey when singers from across China took the stage and offered a taste of the country's diverse cultures.