Pingshan Township: Folk Songs Resound in Immortal Valley

"Sing folk songs; I start, and you echo from afar. Folk songs flow like spring river water, fearless of dangerous shoals and winding bends..."

On April 18, the classic folk song Folk Songs Are Like Spring River Water kicked off the 2014 traditional singing fair in Immortal Valley, Pingshan Township. More than 300 folk song lovers from villages across Pingshan Township, as well as neighboring Buquan Township and Fulong Township of Daxin County, took turns singing, creating a lively festive atmosphere.

The singing fair featured rich and varied programs that were deeply loved by local people. Most folk songs praised hometown scenery, yearned for a better life, and extolled the favorable policies of the Communist Party of China. On that day, melodious singing and cheerful laughter echoed through the valley, enchanting every listener with beautiful tunes. Toward the end of the event, the singers set up an impromptu singing contest. They made friends and exchanged heartfelt emotions through extemporaneous songs, staging a unique cultural communication activity.

It is reported that Pingshan’s singing fair boasts a long history. In the old days, young men and women used folk song duets to court each other. The activity was suspended during the Cultural Revolution and resumed only last year, making this the second session since its revival. The comeback of the singing fair has not only enriched local cultural life but also injected new vitality into ethnic traditional culture.