In recent days, Chen Yanhua, a representative inheritor of intangible cultural heritage and the "Queen of Folk Songs," along with her students, has been diligently practicing original folk songs at Chang'an'ying Village, Chang'an'ying Town, Chengbu Miao Autonomous County, in preparation for the upcoming 27th Hunan (Nanshan) Liuyueliu Folk Song Festival.

The opening ceremony of the 2023 Hunan (Nanshan) Liuyueliu Folk Song Festival. 

The 27th Hunan (Nanshan) Liuyueliu Folk Song Festival will take place in Chengbu Miao Autonomous County from July 30 to August 2.

The festival features a series of activities, including:
Two preliminary activities: 
-- Chengbu KOL Talent Show: A Selection of Singers; and,
-- Leisure and Summer Retreat Season in Chengbu.

One main event:
-- A grand public celebration of the 27th Hunan (Nanshan) Liuyueliu Folk Song Festival on the evening of July 30 at the outdoor venue of the Chenbu County Ethnic Culture and Sports Center.

Three supporting activities:
-- A summer health run;
-- Folk culture experiences; and,
-- Intangible cultural heritage food fair.

The poster of the 27th Hunan (Nanshan) Folk Song Festival. 

Since inception in Chang'an'ying Town, the Nanshan Folk Song Festival has been held for 26 consecutive years. The event has developed into one of Hunan's four major folk festival brands and was recognized as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage. The festival has earned prestigious honors including the "China Outstanding Contemporary Festival Award" and the "China Outstanding Festival Award for Celebrating 40 Years of Reform and Opening-up." The festival was also selected for the fourth batch of National Public Cultural Service System Demonstration Projects.

Thanks to this festival's influence, Chengbu achieved significant recognition, being listed among "China's Top 100 Most Influential Cultural Tourism Counties," "China's Most Beautiful Counties," and "China's Top 100 Most Beautiful Rural Counties and County-level Cities." Additionally, it has been rated as "China's Regional Leisure Tourism Destination."

The natural scenery of Nanshan Grassland.

In recent years, the county authority is committed to further promoting ethnic culture, fostering ethnic unity and progress, and deepening the integration of cultural and tourism industries. To this end, the county authority has seized the opportunity of hosting the Hunan (Nanshan) Liuyueliu Folk Song Festival to build two core cultural tourism hubs in the downtown area of the county and Nanshan Scenic Area. Focusing on promoting integration of culture and tourism as well as integration of culture and technology, the local authority is accelerating the construction of a core ecological cultural tourism zone in southwestern Hunan, a strong ecological cultural tourism county in Hunan, and a tourist destination of national significance.

In the first quarter of 2025, the county received 1.73 million tourist visits, generating 1.81 billion CNY in comprehensive tourism revenue, representing year-on-year growth of 14.37% and 11.74%, respectively.

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

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: Hunan Daily