From April 23 to 24, 2025, the "Folk Songs Flow Like the Spring River—2025 Sanyuesan International Folk Song Invitational Tournament" took place in Nanning. The event was hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee, the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and the Nanning Municipal People's Government, with support from Guangxi Arts University and other institutions. This year's tournament, themed "Folk Songs Have No Borders, Mountains and Rivers Have Meetings", brought together 66 contestants from 22 countries on five continents around the world.
Yunnan Arts University (YNAU) delegated a team of international students, consisting of Indonesian students Chen Ciai and Xie Nanjie, Malaysian students Lyu Jietong and Ye Peiying, and Thai student Jin Fangrong, to participate in the tournament. The YNAU international student team's rendition of the foreign traditional piece "Indonesian Song Medley" during the competition seamlessly integrated the picturesque landscapes of Indonesia with reflections on life, expressing a heartfelt love for their hometown, an admiration for life, and the pure sweetness of youthful romance. Another classic Yunnan folk song, "Guests from Afar, Please Stay", resonated with the audience as international students passionately conveyed the deep camaraderie of Yunnan's ethnically diverse and hospitable people, enabling listeners to experience the ethos of "Yunnan lifestyle". This tournament featured six award categories: "Best Folk Song Heritage Award", "Best Popularity Award", "Best Stage Performance Award", "Best Communication Star", "Best Singing Award", and "Excellent Performance Award". The YNAU team achieved the "Best Stage Performance Award" through their exceptional performance.
The YNAU International School and Music School collaborated efficiently to ensure the complete success in this tournament. Looking ahead, the YNAU aims to emphasize the unique "Chinese + Art" educational approach for international students. It will focus on developing a high-quality platform for international art education and enhancing the training quality of international students. These efforts aim to infuse new vitality into cultural heritage empowerment and foster deeper people-to-people connections.
