On May 10 in France, on the last day of their trip to the country, the the Li and Miao Children’s Choir of Wuzhishan City visited the Paris Opera, the National Conservatory of Music and Dance of Paris, and the Paris Museum of Music. The group also had the chance to sing with the Paris Polysons Choir, together discovering that the joy of music breaks down barriers and crosses borders.

The Li and Miao Children’s Choir of Wuzhishan City and the Paris Polysons Choir sing from the same stage with one voice. (Photo: Zhang Hang)

Children from France and China discuss music together. (Photo: Xie Kai / Hainan Daily)

On the morning of May 10, the Wuzhishan choir visited the Paris Opera, one of the most famous opera houses in the world. Dressed in traditional Li Brocade and Miao Embroidery, the children formed a flash mob and performed Li and Miao songs accompanied by the Li nose flute, arresting passersby in their tracks and fascinating them with the elegance of Hainan’s minority cultures.

Following their impromptu performance, the choir was invited to visit the National Conservatory of Music and Dance of Paris, a prestigious institution that has produced countless international arts prodigies. There, the conductor of the Paris Polysons Choir gave the French and Chinese choir members a musical lesson, allowing them to break through the language barrier and explore the essence of music through physical movement and polyphonic improvisation.

During their visit to the Paris Museum of Music, the children’s choir members learned about the development history of French classical music and viewed many different types of musical instruments. “I have never seen many of these instruments before. They also had a piano made in China. It was a very rewarding visit,” said one of the children from Wuzhishan.

To conclude the tour, the two choirs held a farewell ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe, also known as the Triumphal Arch. The children exchanged Chinese Knots and contact information, bringing the physical journey to an end but continuing onward in their journey of friendship and cultural exchange.

The choir members posed for a group photo in front of the Arc de Triomphe. (Photo: Xie Kai / Hainan Daily)

The Li and Miao Children’s Choir of Wuzhishan City includes children ages 6-14 from Shuiman Township, Wuzhishan City, Hainan. The music group recently concluded their three day long cultural exchange trip to France. A representative of Wuzhishan explained that “last year marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, and this year brings the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Europe. By strengthening the connection between the two sides, the children not only expressed the true beauty of China's minority cultures, but also formed friendships crossing mountains and seas.”