2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, and is also the Year of Culture and Tourism between China and France. On May 3, a group of Li and Miao children from Wuzhi Mountain in Hainan set off for Paris to participate in Sino-French cultural exchange activities.
The 18 children who participated in this Sino-French cultural exchange event are members of the Wuzhishan Li and Miao Children's Chorus, and they all come from In Shuiman Central School, most students are from Li and Miao ethnic groups. In this ethnic minority area surrounded by green waters and green mountains, children have especially loved singing since they were young. The song "Sing the Five Finger Mountains to France" intertwined the children in the mountains with the distant Seine River.
Wuzhishan Li Miao Children's Choir rehearses "Sing Wuzhishan to France"
"Bonjour paris, bonjour france, the fire under the snow-capped mountains is as dazzling and bright as the sunshine in the rainforest..." The sweet children's voice narrates the two countries between China and France. The deep friendship between the two countries echoes in the mountains and forests.
"Sing Wuzhishan to France" was inspired by the French song "If I Go to China". After French President Macron visited China last year, this French nursery rhyme quickly became a hot topic. A group of French children sang their longing for Chinese customs and hoped to visit China in person. The song "Sing Wuzhishan to France" echoes the French song "If I Have a Chance to Go to China".
The songwriter of "Singing Wuzhishan to France" is the president of Hainan Provincial Orchestra Society and the leader of Wuzhishan Li Miao Children's Chorus Liu Min: The rainforest of Wuzhishan and the fire under the snow-capped mountains are equally dazzling and bright; the craft beer of Bordeaux and the black tea of Wuzhishan , they also appreciate each other and become the common beautiful things in the world. Through this song, the children express their wish for friendly exchanges between the two peoples and hope that the relationship between China and France will get better and better.
Teacher Liu Min is not only the songwriter of "Sing Wuzhishan to France", but also the chorus conductor of the choir's trip to France. In order to make the song more down-to-earth and easy to understand in France, Teacher Liu will lead the children to sing the French version. However, it is not an easy task for a group of Chinese children with zero basic knowledge to sing in French.
The songwriter of "Singing Wuzhishan to France", President of the Hainan Provincial Orchestra Society, Liu Min, Director of the Wuzhishan Li Miao Children's Chorus: After the translation, because of the tight time, we couldn't teach the children using very formal syllables, it was too late, so It is said that we have translated all the French words into Chinese characters and pinyin to facilitate the children's memory. Basically, they can learn it in two or three days. We continue to strengthen it and take out individual special syllables to teach them separately. Basically, the French can understand it and the children can also sing it clearly.
Most of these children who came from the mountains have never even been to places other than Hainan. This is their first trip out of the country, to a strange country thousands of miles away, and their hearts are full of curiosity and expectation. What is their biggest wish for this trip?
Children’s little wishes and small gifts
Li Yunbing: Taking photos of the Arc de Triomphe.
Wang Zinuo: I think the Eiffel Tower is very spectacular.
Wang Ruhan: I want to go to the Eiffel Tower to watch the sunrise and sunset in Paris.
Chen Kexin: I want to drink French hand-ground coffee.
Wang Xinghe: I want to eat French handmade bread.
Gao Mingyang: My father said that Western food is all spaghetti and steak. Although
have not yet set off for France, they have already practiced using simple French to greet their French friends.
Wang Mingjian: French children, here I am.
group: Hello, Paris.
Wang Ruhan: Hello, I am a kid from China. Nice to meet you.
group: Hello, France.
The children said that they would not only sing Wuzhishan to France, but also make more friends with their French friends, learn from each other, and invite them to visit China.
Chen Kexin: I welcome French children to come to China. I want to take them to pick snails, catch fish, and climb mountains.
Wang Mingjian: Go to Wuzhishan Mountain Viewing Point and go rafting in Red Canyon.
Wang Qisi: I want them to come to Maona to taste tea.
Wang Zinuo: There are also Shuiman’s special snacks, such as bamboo tube rice, rice dumplings, and five-legged pigs.
On the afternoon of May 3, the children set off at Haikou Meilan Airport. They were neatly dressed in choir uniforms and brought carefully prepared small gifts, including panda dolls, Hainan Eld's deer badges, Hainan gibbon backpacks... They wanted to give these small gifts with Chinese and Hainan characteristics to their French friends. .
Gao Mingyang’s father: Bring this toy to the children in France.
Gao Mingyang: Where should I put this first?
Gao Mingyang’s father: Put it here, French children all like pandas.
Gao Mingyang: This is for French children.
Wang Ruhan: This is a small gift carefully prepared for them
(CCTV News)
