China Daily reported that the opening ceremony of the 14th Lancang-Mekong Culture and Art Festival took place on the evening of October 28 at the Manting Royal Garden Theater in Jinghong, Xishuangbanna. The gala followed the theme of “Time Starts, Art as Bridge” and was organized into four chapters focusing on shared origins, friendship as a bridge, harmonious integration and joint prosperity. It used symphony music to connect the segments seamlessly, allowing audiences to experience the blended civilizations of the Lancang-Mekong basin.
The coverage highlighted how artists celebrate unity at Lancang-Mekong Culture and Art Festival in Xishuangbanna through a range of traditional performances from the participating nations. Cambodian dancers presented the Kailash Mountain Dance praying for world peace and blessings. Laotian artists performed duet songs and dances depicting human customs and local flavor while Myanmar’s piece conveyed auspicious greetings.
Thailand and Vietnam contributed distinctive acts as well, with the former showcasing an elegant royal costume exhibition dance and the latter illustrating riverside scenes and affectionate ties in “River Return,” the report said. These foreign presentations were matched by strong domestic offerings that fused music from several countries. One instrumental piece incorporated elements from across the region to symbolize cultural connections.
According to a Xinhua report, the evening also featured a solo song paying tribute to the millennium-long civilization of the Lancang-Mekong, a magic music comedy that portrayed the common origins and coexistence of the six countries, and a song and dance dedicated to the fifth anniversary of the China-Laos Railway’s opening. A medley displayed the colorful customs of Yunnan’s ethnic groups and another song praised the magnificent landscapes of the river basin. The symphonic finale depicted the picturesque scenery before all Chinese and foreign artists united on stage to perform “Together We Fly,” expressing the common dream of the six nations.
The Lancang-Mekong Culture and Art Festival originated in 1992 as a cultural event for the six border regions and was officially renamed in 2011, a China Daily assessment found. Over the subsequent 14 editions, it has evolved into an important platform for the countries to display their diverse cultures, learn from each other and enhance people-to-people friendship. This edition will continue until November 1 with a series of supporting activities.
Side events include an international photography exhibition titled “One Great River,” the Lancang-Mekong Treasures Carnival and an elegant assembly combining tea and music, Xinhua reported. These programs are designed to deepen humanistic exchanges and cooperation in culture and tourism among the basin countries. Xishuangbanna’s location as a border area adjacent to Laos and Myanmar makes it a natural venue for such gatherings.
A report from NewsGD noted that the prefecture is home to many ethnic minority groups and functions as a vital frontier hub for the six Lancang-Mekong countries. The river itself, called Lancang in its upper reaches within China, flows through all the participating nations and serves as a unifying geographical feature. The festival has consistently leveraged this shared natural tie to build stronger regional bonds through the arts.
