Songmingyan Scenic Area, Hezheng County, Gansu Province: The "Huaer"
Here are Distinctively Beautiful

Songmingyan Scenic Area, Hezheng County, Gansu Province: The "Huaer" Here are Distinctively Beautiful

On the morning of June 14th, when entering the Songmingyan Scenic Area in Hezheng County, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, it was already crowded with people. Tourists from all over gathered in groups, finding a shady spot to sit on the ground and listen to the splendid performances by numerous Huaer singing artists.

The Songmingyan Huaer Festival is one of the three famous Huaer festival venues in Gansu Province and is also the birthplace of Hezhou Huaer.

During the 2023 China Huaer Conference, Huaer enthusiasts from all over the country gathered here. Chen Yufei, the honorary chairman of the Hezheng County Huaer Artists Association, led the members of the association to start singing Huaer songs at Songmingyan early on. The members of the association wore colorful and vibrant performance costumes, exuding confidence and happiness as they took the stage to sing. Their melodious voices echoed through the valley, earning applause from the audience.

"With the continuous arrival of tourists, even though we have been singing for several hours, we don't feel tired at all. On the contrary, we become more energized as we sing", Chen Yufei said. Every year, the Huaer Festival is held at Songmingyan, where the atmosphere is vibrant.

"The Huaer Festival is a great platform for communication and promotion. I hope that more and more people will come to love Huaer singing. As a prefecture-levelor, it is our duty to pass down the tradition of Huaer singing", Chen Yufei added.

Zhu Shengmao, a member of the Hezheng County Huaer Artists Association, attracted many visitors with his brightly colored attire and powerful singing voice. "I started singing Huaer songs when I was in my twenties, and I have been singing for over forty years now. Whether I am happy or troubled, I sing Huaer songs. Huaer has become part of my life", he said. He plans to recruit apprentices and teach them Huaer singing through school selections and recommendations. "This is a precious treasure of our Chinese culture that cannot be lost", he emphasized.

It is known that the Songmingyan Huaer Festival is held from the 26th to the 29th of the fourth lunar month every year in Songmingyan, a national forest park and provincial scenic area in Hezheng County, Gansu Province.

Throughout the years, Huaer has flourished even more brilliantly throughance and protection, just like the current state of Songmingyan, where "Huaer" flows in the streams, resonates in the valleys, and permeates the air.

On this land, "Huaer" blooms more vibrant than ever. (Wu Yuting)