On October 9th, the inaugural Qunjia National Forest Park Music Festival kicked off under a light drizzle in Qunjia Tibetan Township, nestled in the Huzhong District of Xining, Qinghai Province. This event also marked the official opening of the “Cloud Above Qunjia” camping site, welcoming its very first visitors.
Qunjia, meaning “the place where the white phoenix has landed” in Tibetan, is a stunning locale with a vegetation coverage of 79.32%. This lush environment is home to over 200 wildlife species, including white-lipped deer, sika deer, and musk deer, making it a biodiversity hotspot.
The music festival showcased a diverse array of performers from across Qinghai, featuring everything from piano solos to poetry readings accompanied by ethnic instruments. A standout moment came when artists from the Cultural Center of Qixia District in Nanjing presented a captivating folk music ensemble entitled “Autumn Elegance.”
One of the festival’s most moving performances was by blind pianist Shiyuan Rongming, who played “The Red Blossoms of the Mountain” to thunderous applause. Shiyuan shared his thoughts on the experience, saying, “Even though I can’t see, I can hear the support and appreciation from my audience. It’s quite cold today, but the lively atmosphere of the concert warms every performer standing in the chilly wind.”
The partnership between Qixia District in Nanjing and Huzhong District in Xining has roots going back to 2016, with the goal of fostering collaboration between eastern and western China. This year, the “Cloud Above Qunjia” camping project stands out as a key initiative from this partnership.
Spanning 201 acres in the Heixia Scenic Area of Qunjia National Forest Park, the camping site is backed by an investment of 81.86 million yuan, with 45 million yuan contributed by cooperative funds. The site features a visitor service center, a tent restaurant, and temporary parking, and is set to begin trial operations this October.
Xu Ning, Deputy Secretary of the Huzhong District Committee and Deputy District Chief, underscored the significance of this initiative. “Currently, our focus on cooperation between the east and west centers on industrial revitalization. The ‘Cloud Above Qunjia’ project aims to establish an international eco-tourism destination and a high-end accommodation hub, which could become a model for tourism collaboration between our regions.”
Xu further noted that the camping site is expected to stimulate local development. “The national forest park provides a unique competitive edge. The operation of the camping site will not only create job opportunities for local herders but also indirectly boost the local dining industry. Once the project becomes profitable, we can distribute dividends to villagers, thereby strengthening our collective economy.”
In recent years, the collaboration between Qixia District and Huzhong District has yielded positive results, with a total investment of 290 million yuan funding 52 cooperative projects. Qixia District has facilitated sales worth 255 million yuan for local products and connected 412 rural workers with job opportunities in Jiangsu Province, while also sending 145 skilled professionals to support Huzhong.
Xu Ning expressed his appreciation for the successful music festival and the opening of the camping site, attributing these achievements to the robust cooperation between the two regions. “With Qixia situated by the Yangtze River and Huzhong at the source of the Three Rivers, we are harmonizing to create a beautiful melody of ‘drinking from the same river and building a shared future.'”
