Hua'er
( 2005-09-13 )

Hua'er (flower) is a kind of folksong that the Hui people enjoy very much. Melodies resonate with rich local flavor and the simple pleasures of life. Hua'er is also called Shaonian, which literally means youngsters, because the boys call the girls Hua'er and the girls call the boys Shaonian when they sing in turns.

Hua'er meetings take place at natural outdoor stages where singers compete and sing together. It is also a carnival for the Hui and other nationalities that are fond of Hua'er. Among the many such meetings, two are the most famous. They are held in Ningxia Autonomous Region every year, on the Lianhua Mountain at the beginning of lunar June and on the Songming Mountain on lunar April 28. On the day of these meetings, trees are in leaf all over the mountain while bright flowers are in full bloom. When people arrive from around to sing in traditional style and enjoy themselves, the whole scene is full of happiness and excitement.