Overseas Influencers Explore the Fascinating Fusion of Music and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Chongqing

From practicing yoga to enjoying traditional Chinese music and experiencing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) culture, the Wushan Joyful Sound and Healing Festival successfully took place from August 12th to 13th in Chongqing. Overseas Recommenders from Egypt, Thailand, Iran, and Myanmar journeyed to the mountainous forests situated over a thousand meters above sea level to immerse themselves in the enchanting blend of TCM and the healing power of music.

Relax mind and body through music and meditation

"Yoga originated from human experience and boasts a rich historical and cultural background. Over the course of thousands of years, yoga's purpose has been to attain a life of health, happiness, and spiritual enlightenment." On the first day of the event, Guan Xue, founder of the Sound Therapy Yoga system, introduced the history of yoga and guided participants in experiencing the allure of yoga culture.

The ethereal music began, and under Guan Xue's guidance, the overseas recommenders moved in rhythm with the melodies of the music.

"This is my first time encountering the combination of music and yoga. Despite feeling a bit sore in my legs during the yoga practice, I experienced an unprecedented sense of relaxation." Heidi Abouzeid, an overseas recommender from Egypt, expressed great interest in the yoga session and even collected Guan Xue's contact information for further learning.

Appreciating Traditional Chinese Music: Overseas Recommenders Listen to High-Quality Performances by Renowned Musicians

"The guqin is a traditional Chinese plucked instrument with over three thousand years of history. It evolved from five strings to seven during the Han Dynasty. The seven-string guqin is the style commonly seen today, with the notes being sol, la, do, re, mi, sol, la." Zhao Xiaoxia, an associate professor specializing in guqin at the Central Conservatory of Music, shared the history of the "guqin's past and present" with the overseas recommenders and the audience.

Zhao Xiaoxia shared China's profound musical culture through the guqin medium. As her explanations deepened, she performed the piece Drunkard with astonishing skill. The audience took out their phones to capture these captivating moments.

"When I heard this piece, it reminded me of the boldness of the heroes in 'Water Margin.' I definitely want to learn to play the guqin in the future!" Nan Phyu Phyu Thein, an overseas recommender from Myanmar, excitedly exclaimed after hearing Drunkard.

After the presentation, a journalist asked Zhao Xiaoxia, "Using the guqin as an example, how can various forms of Chinese art better reach the world and be accepted by people from different cultures?" Zhao replied, "As times evolve, using the guqin as an example, its music is integrated into films, symphonies, and various cultural forms, blending with different environments familiar to various groups. This familiarity allows more and more people to recognize it. I believe that in the process of Chinese traditional culture reaching the world, it will gain increasing popularity."

As dusk fell, a melodious bamboo flute sound drew the attention of the overseas recommenders towards the open-air main venue of the event. At the center of the main stage stood Ah Jing, a cultural ambassador of Yunnan's intangible heritage music. Around him, various traditional Chinese musical instruments such as bamboo flutes, xiao (vertical bamboo flutes), and shakuhachi were arranged. These instruments captivated the gaze of Zeinab Mossadeghian, an overseas recommender from Iran. She had often seen these Chinese instruments in online videos but hadn't had the chance to hear them live.

The performance officially commenced, and Ah Jing not only took turns showcasing the dozen or so musical instruments by his side but also occasionally sang, infusing elements of Chinese ethnic minority folk songs into his singing.

Despite a passing drizzle, hardly anyone left the scene. After each piece concluded, thunderous applause resounded. Zeinab Mossadeghian couldn't help but exclaim after listening, "I'm incredibly excited. Today, I heard the sounds of the instruments I had seen in online videos before in person. And the fact that he can play so many instruments so beautifully all by himself is just amazing!"

Experiencing traditional Chinese medicine

On the second day of the event, the organizers invited renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioner Shen Wu to guide the overseas recommenders in experiencing moxibustion.

Shen Wu taught on-site, saying, "Moxibustion is best done during the day, preferably around noon. After moxibustion, rest more, as moxibustion itself balances yin and yang. After moxibustion, the balance of yin and yang within the body continuously adjusts, aiming to restore equilibrium." While explaining, he demonstrated how to perform moxibustion and shared some health tips with the overseas recommendation officers.

Salma Ibrahem Mohamed, an overseas recommender from Egypt, remarked that her shoulders were somewhat sore. After Shen Wu's massage and moxibustion, she delightedly exclaimed, "It's magical! My shoulder pain is completely gone! I really want to find a boyfriend who understands traditional Chinese medicine!"

As the event drew to a close, a reporter asked Eve, a Ph.D. student from Southwest University in Thailand, about her experience at the event. She said, "I've been under a lot of pressure from writing my thesis recently. This event made me feel exceptionally comfortable. I usually attend concerts in theaters and auditoriums, but I've never attended a concert in the mountains. This experience has made my body and soul feel exceptionally relaxed."

The Wushan Joyful Sound and Healing Festival is a part of the inaugural China Wushan Yangtze River Cloud Lifestyle Season. Themed "Wushan Cloud Surges, Yangtze Youthful Glow," the cloud lifestyle season features a series of exciting events from July to September, allowing residents and tourists to experience a refreshing and delightful "cloud lifestyle" in Wushan.