Linyi melody echoes China-Cambodia friendship

Princess Norodom Jenna, a member of the Cambodian Royal Family, expressed her deep connection to Linyi, Shandong province, during her first official visit to the city on June 26-28.

The princess rose to fame on Chinese social media after performing the classic Chinese folk song Yimeng Mountain Minor in fluent Mandarin during a China-Cambodia cultural exchange event in Phnom Penh this April.

Driven by a deep curiosity about the song's origins, she embarked on her first cultural journey to Linyi – the birthplace of the folk tune.

"Linyi will always be special to me," she said. "It's where the beautiful song Yimeng Mountain Minor was born. It painted a picture of Linyi's soul – gentle, proud, and full of heart."

The folk song Yimeng Mountain Minor, which is now the city song of Linyi, was once selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as one of the "world's outstanding songs".

During her visit, she performed it together with Song Shoulian, a renowned third-generation singer of the folk song in the city's Feixian county, where the song was originally created.

The 74-year-old taught Norodom the traditional way to perform the song and spoke of her as a quick learner.

The two quickly formed a warm and friendly bond, with the princess affectionately referring to Song as "grandma".

A similar connection was established between the princess and the local children who joined the performance. Many described her as "beautiful and gentle", touched by her graceful and friendly presence.

"Before, I loved the melody and the emotions behind it," she said. "But now that I've seen the landscapes and met the local people, the lyrics feel even more real."