A press conference for the 2023 Hunan (Nanshan) Liuyueliu Folk Song Festival, and also Hunan (Chengbu) High Mountain Agriculture Expo was held in Changsha on July 9. The opening ceremony and evening gala of the festival will take place in Chengbu Miao Autonomous County on July 23.

Five major activities will be held, including:
-- Opening ceremony and evening gala of 2023 Hunan (Nanshan) Liuyueliu Folk Song Festival, and also Hunan (Chengbu) High Mountain Agriculture Expo;
-- High Mountain Food Music Week;
-- Hunan (Chengbu) Mountain Agriculture Development Seminar and High Mountain Agricultural Products Trade Fair;
-- Hunan-Guangxi Tourism Promotion Conference; and,
-- Summer Retreat and Recreational Activities and the first Nanshan Starry Sky Camping Event.

The Liuyueliu Folk Song Festival originated in Chang'an'ying Town, Chengbu Miao Autonomous County. The ancestors of the Miao and Dong ethnic groups in this area used to sing folk songs to express their emotions, celebrate life, and gather strength during their agricultural activities. On the sixth day of the sixth month of the Chinese calendar, the Miao and Dong villages in Chengbu transformed into a vibrant celebration of music and dance. The folk song festival has gradually evolved into a local festival and has been passed down to this day.

In recent years, Chengbu has persisted in using the folk song festival as a bridge for cultural exchange, a platform for cultural promotion, and an opportunity for economic and trade development. The festival has been successfully held for 24 consecutive years and has become one of the four major folk festival brands in Hunan Province. It has also been approved as one of the fourth batch of demonstration projects in the national public cultural service system. With the hosting of the folk song festival, Chengbu is accelerating the construction of a model area for eco-health in central and western China, a demonstration zone for modern featured agriculture, and a national tourist destination of significant importance. This further strengthens and expands the achievements made in establishing Chengbu as a demonstration county for national ethnic unity and progress.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.  

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn