CQ’s Traditional Music The Intangible Cultural Heritage Map

Chongqing is home to centuries of folk music  

1. Chuanjiang Haozi ('labour songs')

Chuanjiang Haozi were originally sung by the boatmen who heaved boats by ropes through the steep rapids of the Yangtze river and its tributaries, the Jialing, Wujiang, and Daning. The songs originally developed as a means of the men keeping stride with each other. The songs’ rich lyrics feature places along the river, local history and people.

2.Luoer Music from the Shizhu Tujia People

Native to the mountains of Chongqing which are the traditional home of the Tujia people, these songs are based on the four tones of the local Tujia dialect in Shizhu. They have an openness of style that is characteristic of the Tujia. Some of the best known pieces include "The sun comes out jubilant", "Years song", "Pregnant song", and "Little lover".

3.Wind and Percussion Music from Wansheng’s Jinqiao Town

Jinqiao town of Wansheng is known regionally as the home of wind and percussion music, one of the ten folk arts of the Bayu culture of ancient Chongqing. Jinqiao wind and percussion music was especially vibrant during Song and Yuan more than 700 years ago. Its more than 1,000 songs have several variations focusing on aspects such as festivals, the working day, funerals, and folklore.

4.Youyang Folk Songs 

The Youyang region is a sea of folk songs, with each village having its own. As the region’s Tujia people have no written language, the Youyang folk songs’ carry everything from local history, to astronomy, geography, and customs.

Beginning in the Tang dynasty, these songs were developed to help the Tujia farmers through the back breaking working day. These days they are a living source of local history and culture.