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Feature: Hani ancient ballad impresses Milan Expo visitors

Xinhua, June 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

No matter what the weather is like in Milan, the auditorium of the China Pavilion at the Italian world exposition every day is packed with visitors from all over of the world eager to watch the live performances of the Hani ancient ballad.

The Hani ancient ballad is a folk program of songs and dances reflecting the history and culture of the villages of Hani people surrounded by rice terraces in Yuanyang County of Honghe Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The multi-part ballad is the only live performance inside the China Pavilion at the ongoing Expo Milano 2015 in the Italian northern city, and one of the pavilion's highlights.

"I am very curious about the culture of this ethnic group from Yunnan," an Italian visitor named Daniela told Xinhua.

"The dresses of Hani dancers are really wonderful. I think today's precious legacy of the Hani culture shows the greatness of China's ancient civilization and history," she added.

The Hani ancient ballad has impressed several political and business representatives from foreign countries who visited the China Pavilion, Deputy Commissioner of the China Pavilion Yan Libing told Xinhua.

The performance, Yan noted, celebrates the agriculture and harvest tradition of the Hani, in line with the Italian world exposition's leading theme of "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life."

Added to the National Intangible Heritage List in 2008, Hani songs and dances originally accompanied laborers in the terraced fields of Yunnan province.

In 2013, the terraced fields of Yunnan province became a world heritage site. They are believed to have been around for over 1,300 years, the same length of time as the Hani ancient ballad.

The Hani villages' closure from the outside world are said to have enabled the songs and dances to keep their unique flavor and own musical style, which has aroused the attention of music experts throughout the world.

Director of the Hani ballad at the China Pavilion Zhou Zuyi told Xinhua the show takes place five times a day and will be put on until the end of October, when the six-month Expo closes.

Between one performance and the other, Zhou said, the dancers keep busy taking pictures with mesmerized visitors, answering questions about the Hani culture and traditions.

The China Pavilion invites visitors to learn about China's agricultural history, especially its rich food culture, and has become one of the most popular pavilions in Milan.

The rippling-wheat-shaped building covers an area of 4,590 square meters and is the second largest foreign pavilion next to Germany's at the Expo. Endit