Anthems weave together a collective soul

Tasked with creating a village anthem, Lyu embarked on a journey of discovery. Door to door, she listened to village songs sung by elderly people, many of which were involved in the red culture during revolutionary times.

She heard stories of hardship and resilience, learning about the township's history, family legacies and personal triumphs.

"The town is full of touching stories and historical landmarks in urgent need of preservation. Many of the elderly who knew these stories have passed away," Lyu said.

One of her most cherished memories is of an elderly man who, nervous about forgetting the lyrics during a choir performance, scribbled them on the back of his hand."It showed how much this meant to him," Lyu said.

The township's population reflects a semi-agricultural, semipastoral lifestyle. Aging and migration have left many elderly villagers in need of support and joy. Through village songs, Lyu found a way to address their needs.

In her spare time, she runs the WeChat account Laomingzi to share videos of the villagers performing, the local scenery and community stories. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with elderly participants glowing at the sight of themselves on their phones, reading praise from netizens.

Her efforts have also bridged cultural divides. Villagers now sing songs from other regions, like Red Dates in Shaanxi province's Nihegou village, connecting with communities far beyond the grasslands through social media.

"I never expected our village song by a group of villagers in Inner Mongolia to resonate so deeply with others. It's truly moving," said Wu Jiangwei, Party secretary of the village.

Through village anthems, farmers and herders have found a way to share their stories with the world."More importantly, villagers have gained a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity. They have developed a new collective identity and are reshaping modern rural communities," she said.

Fang Biling contributed to this story.