Why are flowers so red? It's because of the strong fragrance
in the deep mountains

Huaer, also known as "Shaonian" or "Man Shaonian" are a type of folk song.They are widely loved by the laboring people in Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia, Xinjiang, and Sichuan provinces as folk songs or mountain songs.With a long history, there are records of Huaer singing dating back to the Ming Dynasty.Huaer originated from the folk, spread among the folk, and were sung and passed down by the folk, earning the title of "World Cultural Heritage".

The emergence of Huaer is closely intertwined with the lives of the laboring people. It is labor and life that gave birth to Huaer.In the time-honored history, the laboring people, under the scorching sun, drizzling rain, and harsh conditions, sang authentic Huaer songs to alleviate their hardships and relieve their hearts, making labor time pass more quickly and easily, and finding joy and happiness in them.

In labor and life, young men and women entrusted their longing and love in the singing of Huaer. Through metaphors, comparisons, emotions, and underlying feelings expressed in the singing, they expressed their yearnings and hopes for the future. This also gave rise to a duet form, as seen in the movie "The Liu Sanjie", which is deeply moving and vivid.

Huaer also depict historical figures, promote heroes, filial piety, righteousness, and other themes.Huaer can also be sung in humorous, satirical, ironic, and teasing forms, creating a lively and active atmosphere. With the participation of the audience and other accompanying singers, the singing of Huaer reaches a climax, leaving a lingering impact that lasts for days.

The lyrics of Huaer songs are composed by the masses themselves, using plain language, local dialects, colloquial expressions, and authentic languages. With popular embellishments, each segment of the Huaer song showcases great artistic charm, appeal, infectiousness, and on-site artistic effects.The content of the lyrics mainly focuses on love songs between men and women, encompassing a wide range of subjects. It covers everything from the heavens to the earth, from trees and flowers to birds and animals, from the necessities of life to the joys and sorrows, from mundane affairs to righteousness and integrity. There is nothing that cannot be sung about.

Another characteristic of Huaer is that it can be sung without accompaniment under special conditions. Singers can start the melody by themselves and sing solo, which is called "ganlan". It can also be sung without singing but in the form of reciting lyrics, poetry, or lines, which also produces excellent artistic effects.

The singing of Huaer has two main features. Firstly, the lyrics need to be captivating, theatrical, and have a scene-setting effect. They should touch the hearts and move the emotions of the listeners.Secondly, the singing style is distinctive. According to experts' statistics, there are more than 200 different Huaer melodies, but only about 30 are frequently sung, and about 10 are mainly performed. These include "Zhi Ling", "Yuan Ma Ling", "Shui Hong Hua Ling", "Big Eye Ling", "Sa La Ling", "White Peony Ling", "Yi Ya Yi Ling", "Tu Zu Ling", "Che Xia Ling", and so on.

The mass base of Huaer is extremely large and deeply rooted. It is said to be "dissolved in the blood and marrow of the laboring people" and is the "fragrant bread in the hearts of the laboring people". It is rooted in the people and originates from the people.When singing Huaer, thousands of people gather together. The songs resound through the woods, coupled with vendors and stalls selling goods there, creating an atmosphere similar to a marketplace.People bring various foods and gather by the riverside or in the forest. They drink and sing Huaer songs till sunset.