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 transport authorities mobilized rail, road, air and waterway resources on Tuesday, the final day of the five‑day May Day holiday, to manage the peak return flow as passenger volumes surged nationwide.
The national railway system expects 23 million passenger trips on the day, with operators adding 2,225 extra trains and deploying capacity on popular routes and peak hours to handle the return flow from smaller cities to major hubs.
In Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, 134 trains have been temporarily added for high-demand directions including the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
"Railway return travel peaks today. In light of short stops and high passenger volumes, we have strengthened coordination with intermediate stations and offered guidance to passengers for smooth boarding and alighting to prevent crowding and stampedes," said Ji Yudi, a conductor of China Railway Zhengzhou Group.
Regional operators in Beijing, Chengdu and other cities have also proactively coordinated with local transit authorities to extend bus and subway operating hours, increase nighttime service frequency, and boost taxi and ride-hailing availability to ensure seamless transfers for late-arriving passengers.
With respect to highways, the national highway network is projected to record approximately 61 million vehicle trips on Tuesday. The peak traffic window is between 16:00 and 18:00, with congestion and slow-moving traffic likely around major city entry and exit points, as well as airport expressways in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu.
To ease holiday congestion, traffic police in south China's Guangdong Province have rolled out tidal lanes and flow control measures at 24 key highway sections in nine cities.
"Using a highway interconnect system, we have conducted remote flow diversion. During this morning's peak return period, traffic efficiency on the Erenhot-Guangzhou Expressway improved significantly, showing no sign of congestion," said Dai Zhouwu, a local traffic police officer.
By water, an estimated 1.035 million passenger trips are expected to be made across the country on Tuesday, marking a 1.4-percent increase year on year.
To ensure smooth strait crossing from south China's Hainan Province, the maritime authorities in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province have urged operators to supplement fixed sailings with extra voyages and optimized crew rotations to meet surging vessel demand.
Meanwhile, China's civil aviation sector is projected to carry 2.3 million passengers on Tuesday.
The Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, one of the country's busiest airports in southwest China's Sichuan Province, are offering free luggage pick-up and delivering services to passengers arriving from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
China’s transport network braces for record May Day return traffic
