The 2023 China Native Folk Song Festival opened in Wuyuan County of east China's Jiangxi Province is running into its fourth day on Sunday, with enchanting performances displaying the country's rich traditional culture.

Scheduled from Thursday to Monday, the event was co-hosted by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism as well as the People's Government of Jiangxi Province.

Native folk songs from multiple ethnic groups across the country are being performed at the event. They've been presented in various ways to demonstrate the charms of Chinese native folk songs.

"We use songs to express our Hezhe people's feelings. Just like what we sing in the songs, the life of the Hezhe people is sweeter than honey. We're very happy, as we've always been on the road to happiness," said You Zhongmei, a performer.

This edition of the festival also added the presentation of Chinese traditional instruments by inviting nearly 400 inheritors of intangible cultural heritage skills to the event.

It has become a platform for displaying and promoting traditional music intangible heritage projects, as well as enhancing exchanges and communication in traditional music among different ethnic groups.

"Here, ethnic groups engage in a 'dialogue' with each other with folk song, which will further promote the development of China's folk music," said Hu Xiaodong, professor of the School of Music with Jiangxi Normal University.

Folk songs are an important part of the Chinese culture, which has become a unique and colorful folk music art in the long historical development.

Chinese folk songs can be divided into native, derivative and regenerative ones, of which, the native folk songs are created from Chinese people's life and work. As a crucial part of China's intangible cultural heritage, they not only keep the original cultural features, but also showcase the creativity of Chinese ethnic groups.

Native folk songs performed on stage at the festival include both time-honored work songs and new tracks that demonstrate the characteristics of the times.

"We should always keep in mind where our traditional culture is rooted. In today's world, people's cultural root inspires them to create literature and art in contemporary world. It will also help us create modern music in a more diverse and colorful way, enchanting it with traditional Chinese culture." said Zhou Qingqing, professor of China's Central Conservatory of Music.