Mongolian khoomei, alongside other ethnic folk music traditions, lends an enchanting sonic texture to the animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2," China's first film surpassed 10 billion yuan (1.4 billion U.S. dollars) at the box office. Khoomei, a traditional Mongolian vocal art also known as throat singing, was inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage in 2019. To the uninitiated, khoomei's otherworldly resonance might evoke electronic effects, yet it is a distinctive vocal technique where performers simultaneously produce a deep, rumbling drone and ethereal melodic overtones. This ancient art form has been preserved and handed down for over a millennium across the vast Mongolian steppes.
In Ne Zha 2, the soundtrack harnesses khoomei through the multi-layered vocals of 26-year-old musician Halamuji, whose voice intertwines with the mythical power of the film's "Tianyuan Ding" (or Celestial Cauldron). His performance creates an immersive soundscape, leaving audiences spellbound.
"What struck me most was the scene where the Celestial Cauldron descends. The film weaves together diverse elements - throat singing, suona horns, the Grand Song of the Dong ethnic group - all embodying ethnic musical traditions refined over centuries and passed down through generations," Halamuji said.
"Ne Zha 2" has begun screening for audiences in select international markets, and musician Halamuji expressed hopes that the film's global success will spotlight the allure of Chinese culture and its diverse ethnic folk traditions.
"I'm confident it will resonate deeply overseas. I also hope international audiences will discover the richly poetic, elegantly nuanced, and profoundly wise dimensions of Chinese culture through this film," Halamuji said.
Mongolian Khoomei adds enchanting sound to '”Ne Zha 2”
China's first two-tonne-class tethered balloon entered trial operation in a major power transmission project on Monday, providing a brand-new solution for transportation in power grid construction projects in high-altitude and ecologically sensitive areas, according to the State Grid.
The project is a massive ultra-high voltage (UHV) power transmission line that will carry clean energy from Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China across thousands of kilometers to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in south China.
At the construction site, a large balloon with a diameter of 25 meters and a volume of 8,000 cubic meters slowly rose into the air.
As multiple mooring lines were simultaneously extended and retracted, the heavy construction materials suspended beneath the balloon were lifted off the ground and moved smoothly along a predetermined route toward the mountainous work site.
"This is our newly developed load-bearing tethered balloon. We have just completed a maximum load test of two tonnes at an altitude of 4,000 meters. Next, we will conduct a hoisting operation for power supply materials over a straight-line distance of 500 meters and a vertical drop of 120 meters," said Qin Jian, researcher at the Transmission and Transformation Engineering Technology Research Institute of the State Grid Electric Power Engineering Research Institute.
A heavy-lift tethered balloon involves launching a helium-filled balloon into the air and connecting it to the ground with one or several cables.
By adjusting the cable, the balloon's altitude and horizontal position are controlled to facilitate the transport of materials at high altitudes.
The balloon can travel up to 800 meters and carry a maximum load of two tonnes, with a positional accuracy of within 0.5 meters.
As the construction of new power grids is extending more rapidly into high-altitude, remote mountainous and ecologically sensitive areas, the transportation of materials for transmission projects has become a major challenge constraining construction progress.
Traditional road construction for transportation have long cycles and significant ecological disruption, while drones, though agile and flexible, face limitations in scenarios requiring heavy loads or prolonged continuous transport.
Tethered balloon transport technology effectively overcomes these difficulties.
"The construction section where this technology is applied is located in an uninhabited mountainous area at an altitude of over 4,000 meters. Many tower sites are situated on steep ridges inaccessible by road, making this the section with the highest altitude, most treacherous terrain and most challenging operations in the entire project. The two-tonne tethered balloon is better suited to high-altitude conditions characterized by thin air and strong winds, and its load capacity and stability can better meet transportation requirements," said Feng Tao, project manager of the State Grid Henan Power Transmission and Transformation Company.
China puts first 2-tonne tethered balloon into operation
