Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – When Wang Feng, head of the Gengma Dai and Wa Autonomous County Ethnic Cultural Work Team (Gengma Ethnic Song and Dance Troupe) in Lincang City, Yunnan Province, clicked on the replay of the live broadcast of "Every Village Has a Spring Festival Gala, Every Village Is Well – Gengma New Year Special Program" on February 18th, the number of views on the screen had already exceeded one million. "As a grassroots cultural worker, it's a particularly happy thing to be able to see, pay attention to, and be loved for our ethnic culture," Wang Feng's sentiment expressed, revealing the core value of this "village gala" on the China-Myanmar border.
This special program, which attracted nationwide attention, officially began its live broadcast at 16:00 on February 17th, marking the first time that the Gengma "village gala" broke geographical limitations and met with a global audience through the internet. Gengma County, located on the China-Myanmar border, became a viral sensation in 2023 with its hit song "UP Gengma" for the Water Splashing Festival. This land, home to over 20 ethnic groups including the Dai, Wa, Lahu, and Bulang, is also a treasure trove of culture, embodying the idea of "each ethnic group having its own unique beauty, and all ethnic groups sharing a harmonious coexistence."
"The annual 'Village Gala' is a highlight of the Spring Festival celebrations, where people from all ethnic groups use songs and dances to express their feelings and celebrate the most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation," Wang Feng explained. This year's "Village Gala" was particularly精彩纷呈 (splendid and varied): the Dai dance "Laijie Ensai - Women's Creative Boxing" combined strength and grace, showcasing feminine power; the song "Super Wa" was wild and unrestrained, interpreting the Wa people's heroic spirit; and "Even When Busy, We Must See Each Other" used simple lyrics to sing about the idyllic life on the frontier: "Eating white dew flowers in spring, pickling bamboo shoots in summer, enjoying rice flowers in autumn, and pounding rice cakes in winter." Beyond the village gala, the festive spirit of Gengma is further woven into the folk customs of its various ethnic groups: Dai people swing on swings to pray for peace, Wa people pound rice cakes to share the joy of the harvest, and friends and relatives from different ethnic groups visit each other's homes to exchange blessings. Top-spinning competitions, Spring Festival garden parties, and other activities make every village and hamlet lively and vibrant, showcasing the harmonious coexistence of diverse ethnic cultures during the Spring Festival.
This cultural feast also deeply moved Zhu Yewudai, a young woman from Kunming who had returned from studying abroad. Now a Chinese language teacher in Australia, she returned to China this Spring Festival to visit relatives and, by chance, became the cultural experience ambassador for Gengma's special Spring Festival program. She also enthusiastically introduced Yunnan's ethnic cultures to her Russian student companion, Xia Mi. "Before, I envied the outside world; now, my friends abroad envy our culture," Zhu Yewudai said. She plans to edit her experiences into a short video and post it on overseas social media, allowing more people to experience the charm of Chinese culture and the vitality of the border region through the lens. The popularity of the Gengma "Village Gala" is a microcosm of the "Village Gala" craze across Yunnan. Since February 2026, a series of events have been staged, including the couplet-themed "Village Gala" in Dali, the "Chinese Bridge + Village Gala" in Damuyu Village, Xishan District, Kunming, and the Yunnan Opera "Village Gala" in Shizhuang Village, Anning, Kunming. These events vividly depict the harmonious integration and prosperity of various ethnic cultures and the peaceful and happy lives of the people, unfolding across the Yunnan plateau.
"We hope that through the small window of the 'Village Gala,' the audience can see the beautiful picture of our people of all ethnic groups living together in harmony and happiness," said Wang Feng. This expectation reflects the core meaning of Yunnan's "Village Gala"—using culture as a bond to strengthen the sense of community of the Chinese nation and allow the culture of border ethnic groups to shine even brighter in the new era. (End)
