In the vibrant night of Turpan’s Jiaohe Ancient City, lively tunes, heartfelt performances, and graceful dances came alive, showcasing unique cultural gems like the resounding “Manas” and the soothing “Jiangge’er.” On the evening of October 19, the online theme promotion event “What Makes China: Five Stars Rise in the East” kicked off in this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Jiaohe Ancient City, recognized as the largest and oldest earthen city in the world, is part of the “Silk Road: The Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor” inscribed on the World Heritage list. Within its preserved sites, remnants of streets, residences, Buddhist temples, government offices, and pagoda forests tell the story of its historical role as a crucial military and political center along the ancient Silk Road.
During the event, distinguished guests shared narratives across three themes: “Echoes of a Millennium,” “A Shared Home,” and “The Tianshan Promise,” reflecting on Xinjiang’s historical marks and cultural depth.
The ancient city stood as a testament to the country’s cultural heritage. Artifacts like the Han Dynasty silk armguards depicting “Five Stars Rise in the East,” a silver seal set documenting the return of the Turhui department to China during the Qing Dynasty, and the “Han Guo Yi Qiang Chang” stamp from Aksu all highlight the effective governance of Xinjiang throughout various dynasties, illuminated through the insights of Xinjiang Museum director Yu Zhiyong and professor Chen Ling from Peking University’s Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Institute.
The power of epic storytelling thrived, as local intangible cultural heritage representatives, including Jiang Nuri Turigani, performed a fresh rendition of the epic “Manas,” captivating the audience with its ancient vibes and contemporary flair. Meanwhile, fellow intangible cultural heritage representative Mandulai and his companions emotionally voiced “Jiangge’er,” evoking strong feelings of patriotism and heroism from the epic tales.
For years, Jiang Nuri Turigani and Mandulai have been dedicated to passing down their cultural heritage, nurturing a new generation of enthusiasts and practitioners within rural communities and schools, significantly contributing to the preservation and thriving of “Manas” and “Jiangge’er.”
As celestial dancers took the stage to the enchanting tunes of the “Lotus Award” winning piece “Qianhua·Manbi,” the moonlight illuminated the performance, celebrating Xinjiang’s cave mural artistry. This beautiful dance brought to life the musical heritage from sites like the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves and the Kizil Grottoes, embodying the ideas of creative transformation and innovative development for cultural heritage preservation.
In this ancient city, voices united to praise the shared home of our nation. National labor model and border guard Ma Junwu, outstanding individual for national unity Wu Cuiyun, and skilled welder Shao Xupeng shared personal experiences that exemplified their steadfast commitment to building their homeland in the frontier region. When narrators from the Kurban Tulum Memorial, like Kiyam Maiti Saidi, emphasized following the legacy of their parents who sacrificed their youth for the country, the audience responded with heartfelt applause.
In recent years, Xinjiang’s natural beauty has also enchanted foreign friends who’ve long worked and lived here. Stylist Ahn Jong-soo from South Korea, aquaculture expert Danie from Belgium, and café owner Haidiya from Kashgar, Tanzania, utilized this online promotion event to showcase their enriching experiences and portray Xinjiang as a diverse, open, and confident region, expressing their desire to “never leave this land.”
At the launch, seven new online promotional projects were unveiled. These include People’s Daily’s “The Legend of Manas: An Epic on Horseback,” Xinhua’s “What Makes China: Five Stars Rise in the East—Digital ‘Jiang Xiaoxin’ Takes You Through the Silk Road,” CCTV’s video project “What Makes China: Towards Innovation,” China Daily’s upcoming “China Has an Appointment – Meet in Xinjiang” international media interview initiative, International Online’s “Xinjiang Time,” Xinjiang Daily’s multimedia report “What Makes China: Cultural Relics Through Time,” and Huyang Net’s online campaign “The Voice of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.”
Foreign social media creators participating in the 2024 “China Has an Appointment – Meet in Xinjiang” media interview expressed their astonishment at the launch event’s demonstrations of exemplary Chinese traditional culture and storytelling, hoping to deepen their understanding of Xinjiang and uncover more stories to share with the world.
