Cultural festival showcases Baotou folk culture

The 10th Xikou Cultural Festival opened in Baotou’s Donghe district June 26, according to Baotou Daily.

The festival celebrates historic population migration movements, most notably from Shanxi province to Baotou’s western regions, to increase employment prospects, known as zou xi kou (crossing the west ferry).

Baotou is home to many Shanxi province residents, who began to migrate there en masse during the Ming Dynasty (1388-1644). This migration pattern lasted more than 400 years, only coming to an end in the early years of the Republic of China (1912-1949). The migrants developed a rich rural culture, one treasure of which is Jinju Opera.

Comedian Li Jindou presided over the festival’s opening ceremony.

The 15-day cultural festival will highlight the folk culture of Baotou city and will feature, among other performances, er en tai (a folk opera performed as a male-female duet), and Jinju Opera.

Xikou Cultural Festival opens in Donghe district, Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, June 26. [Photo/Baotou Daily]

One of many performances is staged at the cultural festival June 26. [Photo/Baotou Daily]