Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Han Liang) news: On December 31, 2025, Mansurjan Aniwal held his dutar on the stage in Dunkuotan Township, Yuli County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. "The grassland and poplars of my hometown are beautiful!" The moment his deep, mellow Lop Nur folk song floated out, the whole square was bathed in sound. The audience hummed along and raised their phones to catch the charm of this living heritage.

Photo taken on December 31, 2025 shows Mansurjan (center) performs together with the singers.

"Every time I stand here I feel the songs are alive," he said in the backstage room. "When I was a child, my father sat in the yard with his dutar. The tunes slipped into my heart like a spring breeze."

From that day on he learned from his father, learning folk songs and mastered a variety of ethnic musical instruments including dutar, tanbur, satar, and dap.

Photo taken on December 31, 2025 shows Mansurjan sings and plays the musical instrument.

"We joined every neighborhood party," he recalled. He played the instrument and sang the pieces he'd just learned. "Applause always came, and that feeling of being seen made me love the songs even more." Soon the boy was known as the "little singer."

In 1994, at Yuli's Spring Festival gala, Mansurjan met Tudi Niyaz, a like-minded musician, and became his pupil. They encouraged each other and wrote songs people still sing today.

Photo taken on December 27, 2025 shows Mansurjan (right) and his teacher Tudi compose Lop Nur folk songs together.

Photo taken on December 31, 2025 shows Mansurjan (left) exchanges ideas on creation with his teacher Tudi.

As years passed, his love for Lop Nur songs grew, and so did a sense of duty. "These songs carry the history and soul of the Lop Nur people, yet most existed only in memory. If they died out it would be a tragedy."

Every winter and summer break, he slung an instrument on his back and walked every lane and village, tracking down old players and collecting scattered melodies.

In 2021, he joined the Intangible Cultural Heritage Center of Yuli County, turning his passion into official work.

In the music class at the county's cultural center, students of different ethnic groups sit in a circle while Mansurjan holds a dutar, explaining its parts and playing techniques. "Left-hand fingers must hit the fret exactly, and follow me once more."

Photo taken on December 27, 2025 shows Mansurjan records a music video.

"I've loved ethnic music since childhood," said student Wang Xinzu. "Here I learn both the skills and the stories behind the songs." He can already play three Lop Nur pieces.

Besides regular classes, Mansurjan runs training for folk artists. "So far we've held 140 sessions with more than 2,800 attendants." A winter course is offered just for teenagers. "Kids learn fast; plant the seed in them and the songs will live on."

To widen the songs' reach, he takes the musicians into scenic spots, communities, campuses, and events like the Winter Expo, Spring Expo, and China–Eurasia Expo. "We've done over 150 shows for 88,000 listeners," he said proudly.

Elikut Mokhpul, becoming Mansurjan's apprentice at the age of 13, is now a full member of the Lop Nur ensemble. "Teacher Mansurjan taught me not only fingering but the story inside every song," he said. His dutar solos already draw applause of their own.

Photo taken on December 31, 2025 shows Mansurjan teaches his apprentice to play ethnic musical instrument.

In 2018 Mansurjan was named a prefecture-level inheritor of Lop Nur folk song for Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture. In 2023, he received another intangible-heritage award from Yuli County.

"I see no personal glory," he insisted. "The honor belongs to the songs. I hope every lover of folk music will join us."

Photo taken on August 28, 2025 shows actors perform Lop Nur folk songs for tourists at a scenic area in Yuli County.

While passing on the tradition, Mansurjan and his team explore Lop Nur folk songs, lion dance, cooking dance and other heritage items. They write new songs and shoot music videos so the old tunes reach young ears in a fresh way.

Night falls, but the square still rings with the sound of Mansurjan and his group.

"I will stay passionate," he said. "More songs, more shows, so the beauty of intangible cultural heritage and the spirit of Chinese culture can reach every heart."

Photo taken on December 31, 2025 shows actors sing Lop Nur folk songs.

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