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”
The International Forum on Mutual Learning among Civilizations 2026 opened in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Monday, bringing together nearly 300 participants from more than 20 countries and regions to discuss how civilizations learn from one another, with topics ranging from the ancient Silk Road to the role of AI in cultural exchange.
Themed "Mutual Learning among Civilizations, Inheritance and Development", the two-day forum has gathered government officials, international organization representatives and scholars for nearly 40 talks and discussions on three topics: "Cross-disciplinary Cultural Dialogue," "Cultural Connections between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries," and "The Glory of Civilizations in the AI Era".
Opening the forum, Macao SAR Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai noted that Macao is an important node on the Maritime Silk Road and a place where different cultures have coexisted harmoniously for more than 400 years.
He said Macao will further implement the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping and give full play to its strategic positioning as a vital window for exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and Western civilizations.
Li Guoqiang, a member of the Academic Committee of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and director of the Research Center for Macao History at the Chinese Academy of History, said since Macao's return to the motherland, the practice of "one country, two systems" has not only created a great miracle of economic prosperity, social stability and improved livelihoods, but also preserved the SAR's cultural diversity.
Seven internationally renowned experts and scholars from the fields of history, jurisprudence, finance, sociology, the history of state relations, and journalism and communication also shared their research insights on cultural inheritance and exchange in their keynote speeches.
Tuesday's sessions will delve into the Maritime Silk Road and the past and future of China-Portuguese-speaking countries cultural exchanges, as well as AI and human values.
Forum in Macao explores cultural exchange from Silk Road to AI era
