Guardians of a vanishing song
Dong ethnic group preserves its centuries-old tradition with ancestral memory, cultural pride and communal identity, Chen Nan and Liu Boqian report.
Lifelong devotion
Xiaohuang village is nestled in a tranquil valley, surrounded by lush green mountains, where time seems to slow down and a small river gently meanders through.
Pan's journey with the ancient music form began long before she could even understand the words she was singing.
"I started singing when I was 4 or 5 years old, as soon as I could talk," Pan recalls.
"My mother and grandmother sang, as did all the women in our family. Singing has always been part of our lives — not something you learn separately but something you breathe every day."
Pan's earliest memories were filled with the harmonies drifting through the village, melodies that were not just notes and rhythms but stories, histories and emotions woven into the fabric of her daily life.
Even as a child, Pan quickly became known for her exceptional voice, often leading the group at festivals and ceremonies, a role she still cherishes today.
