BEIJING: This year, the CCTV Spring Festival Gala made history by establishing a branch venue in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, specifically in Kashgar in the southwestern part of the region.
On the evening of Feb 9, an impressive 8-minute performance from the Xinjiang branch venue captured the spotlight as the gala was broadcasted. The innovative stage was set up on the rooftops of 12 houses in the Ancient City of Kashgar, a rammed-earth building complex with a 2,000-year history. The interplay of light and shadow on the stage, accompanied by dynamic music from ethnic instruments, featured local performers from diverse ethnic groups showcasing their singing and dancing. Qin Zheng, the director of the branch venue, explained that this arrangement showcases the genuine way of life of people from diverse ethnic backgrounds in Xinjiang.
These individuals lead fulfilling lives, find contentment, and come together on the rooftops to share meals while participating in song and dance,” she said.
The main program at the Kashgar branch brought together the most distinctive cultural symbols of this vibrant region, involving actors from different generations and ethnicities, with the youngest performer being only five years old.
Xinjiang, a pivotal point along the ancient Silk Road, has been a multi-ethnic settlement since ancient times. The diverse ethnic groups have established deep roots within the Chinese civilization, fostering a vibrant and diverse history and culture through interactions, exchanges and integration.
“Trying to encapsulate all of this in a single performance is not an easy task. From the content of the program to the stage design, in the intertwining of the virtual and real, the fusion of technology and culture, we retained the most representative elements,” added Qin.
The performance also showcased a group of prominent figures who hail from Xinjiang, such as singer Wang Hongwei, actress Dilraba Dilmurat, rapper Air and actor Yu Menglong. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
