On the evening of October 10th, “A Symphony of Hundreds: A Tribute to the Yangtze River” was held in Jiujiang, co-hosted by the Public Service Department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as well as cultural and tourism bureaus from 11 provinces and cities including Jiangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Shanghai. This event gathered outstanding grassroots artistic teams from the Yangtze River Economic Belt, celebrating the cultural tapestry that unites them through the majestic river.
As the beautiful melody of “My Motherland” filled the air, the audience joined in unison, singing heartfelt praises and blessings for their great nation. The opening performance, a song and dance piece titled “Strengthening the River,” set a passionate tone, declaring, “See the Yangtze rolling eastward, with waves wide and full, while the fragrance of golden rice flowers wafts between the banks, highlighting the green waves of development that rise ever higher.”
Over 200 performers from grassroots artistic teams across the 11 provinces and cities showcased the song of the Yangtze River, resonating with the powerful sounds of flowing water that symbolize the new era of progress.
The spectacular evening was divided into three chapters: “A River of Clear Water,” “A Hundred Flowers Blooming,” and “A World of Renewal.” The performance featured a vibrant “Bells Dance” from Guizhou, embodying the rich, joyous lives of the local people. Meanwhile, Yunnan’s poignant song “Waiting for You Beneath the Phoenix Tail Bamboo,” accompanied by the soothing sounds of the hulusi, lingered beautifully on the banks of the Xunyang River. Jiangsu and Anhui presented a suona performance titled “Harvest Fields” along with the song “Smiles in the Waves of Wheat,” depicting the breathtaking harvest scenery along the Yangtze in October.
Other highlights included Sichuan’s lively dance “The Sound of Jujubes,” Chongqing’s traditional qingyin performance “Grandpa’s Scroll,” and dynamic dances like “The Swaying Shadows” and “Chasing Spring” from Shanghai and Hubei. Zhejiang showcased a rap performance titled “New Hubei Drum,” while Hunan contributed with the song “Yuezhou Imprint,” all reflecting the cultural diversity along the Yangtze.
As the host, Jiangxi province and Jiujiang city presented culturally rich performances such as “Drunken Porcelain” and “Song of Poyang Lake,” concluding the event with a grand square dance titled “Come Together, Yangtze River.”
Tao Tao, director of the Public Cultural Service Department of Jiangxi’s Culture and Tourism Bureau, expressed the initiative behind the event as a means to further protect, inherit, and promote the culture of the Yangtze River, enhance public cultural services, and enrich the cultural lives of residents. The focus will now shift towards cultivating Yangtze culture that benefits and delights the people, storytelling through its rich heritage, and producing high-quality cultural products that reflect the essence of the Yangtze.
