After about a month of rehearsals, Wang Guifen, a resident of Xihu Town in Wusu City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, took the stage at the local cunwan (Spring Festival Gala held in rural areas of China) to usher in the Spring Festival.

The term cunwan is a play on chunwan, the name of an official Spring Festival Gala broadcast by China Central Television (CCTV) on the Chinese New Year's Eve on January 28 this year.

At 75 years old, Wang is a custodian of Xihu Xiaoqu, a recognized intangible cultural heritage of Xinjiang that represents a distinct branch of the region's music. This traditional form of musical storytelling is known for its melodious tunes and lyrical narratives, which capture the history, folklore and cultural values of local communities.

Accompanied by fellow village women on stage, Wang told newspaper Xinjiang Daily, "We aim to showcase the joyful life of modern villages in Wusu and throughout Xinjiang, and we warmly welcome all friends to visit and discover our hometown." 

Cultural gala 

Wusu was selected as one of the four demonstration sites in Xinjiang for this year's cunwan. On December 17, 2024, the event was livestreamed across multiple social media platforms, attracting over 10 million viewers worldwide.

The gala featured an impressive lineup of 20 performances, including singing, dancing, crosstalk (a traditional style of Chinese comedy that typically involves two people bantering back and forth), and instrumental music, with more than 400 grassroots performers taking center stage. In addition, performing artists from across the country participated, adding to the event's national appeal.

Liu Yulong, the gala's dance director, highlighted the inclusion of dances from different ethnic groups, to create a festive and harmonious atmosphere in celebration of the upcoming Year of the Snake. The event also spotlighted Shaliboerboke-style wrestling, an originally traditional Mongolian ethnic sport that was recognized as national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

"Wusu is home to many intangible cultural heritage projects," said Wu Shanjiergeli, Director of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center of Wusu, articulating the event's importance in cultural preservation. "Through these performances, we aim to raise awareness and ensure their continued protection and transmission," she said.

An exhibition area was also set up next to the stage, displaying a variety of intangible cultural heritage handicrafts and local agricultural products, further enriching the cultural experience for attendees and viewers alike.

"There are 17 towns in Wusu, and each town hosts its own Spring Festival gala every year," Hu Rui, from the Publicity Department of Wusu, told Beijing Review. "This year was particularly special as it marked our first time serving as a demonstration site for the autonomous region. Following this event, each town will continue its own celebrations, which will last through February."

In the opinion of Shi Zhongming, Director of the Cultural Center in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, cunwan is far more than an entertainment event—it is a lively platform showcasing folk culture, intangible cultural heritage, and traditional sports practiced by different ethnic groups. "This multifaceted approach not only entertains locals but also preserves Xinjiang's rich culture," he said.

Local celebrations 

On December 4, 2024, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added the Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional new year, to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The committee recognized the festival for its rituals and cultural elements, which engage all of Chinese society.

In Xinjiang, from the first day of the lunisolar calendar to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day (which marks the official end of the New Year celebrations), many places will host grand shehuo performances.

Shehuo, a festive folk event similar to a carnival, features dragon and lion dances, traditional Chinese opera, drumming and other folk arts. It was introduced to Xinjiang during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) from other parts of China.

Over time, shehuo has incorporated unique regional elements from Xinjiang, evolving into a spirited part of the New Year's festivities. It has become one of the most prominent and enduring folk activities in the region. In 2006, shehuo was officially recognized as part of China's Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Lu Shan, a 24-year-old from Urumqi is eagerly preparing for her community's shehuo performance. At the age of 10, she and her parents moved from Gansu Province in west China to Urumqi. Over the 14 years that followed, she grew up, attended university outside of Xinjiang and, following graduation, returned to Urumqi to start working there.

Participation in shehuo has reignited cherished childhood memories for her. "Shehuo is among my fondest childhood memories," she told Xinjiang Daily. "There were endless performances to watch and delightful foods to enjoy. Though I've traveled widely since university, Urumqi is the one place I am most attached to," she said.

There, she befriended people from different ethnic backgrounds and

mastered Uygur dance moves. "I am very excited to participate in the shehuo performances, and I can feel the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival in this city growing stronger by the year," she said.

Lu is the youngest of a diverse team of 100 members, including 70 community residents and 30 community workers. The community also invited professional shehuo performance instructors to provide on-site guidance.

Virtual festivities 

The ancient city of Kashgar in Xinjiang was a sub-venue of the 2024 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, marking the first time for a place in the autonomous region to serve as a sub-venue for this event.

Then, in a groundbreaking move, Xinjiang on December 13, 2024, launched the 2025 Xinjiang Family Online Spring Festival Gala, running from mid-December 2024 until this February, enabling more people to join in the Spring Festival celebrations online through major Chinese short video platforms such as Douyin and Kuaishou.

This innovative event invites families to turn their living rooms and courtyards into festive stages, sharing these moments on online platforms.

Their performances are set to come in various forms, fostering a colorful and inclusive festive spirit.

The initiative has garnered enthusiastic responses from many influencers. Among them, a Kazak couple from Urumqi, known as "julifufu" on Douyin, announced plans to perform a Kazak dance with their 6-year-old daughter. Their goal is to inspire viewers to join in the celebrations by dancing and singing along, stressing that the true essence of New Year's festivities lies in togetherness and joy.

"The event is open to everyone, regardless of location or age," an official from the cyberspace administration of Xinjiang told Xinjiang Daily. "This innovative approach not only enriches the content and format of the Spring Festival Gala but also opens new avenues for netizen participation, integrating the gala more deeply into people's lives and making it more accessible to everyone."

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon 

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