NW China holds Silk Road music forum

Han Lei (R), a Chinese singer and Bian Liunian, a composer opening the Silk Road tour at a press conference for the Silk Road Dunhuang International Music Forum. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

Gansu province is getting some Chinese and renowned world musicians to come to its Silk Road Dunhuang International Music Forum, in the city of Lanzhou which started on July 26.

Musicians gathered to create music, exchange ideas on music, and talk about development trends.

The main purpose of the forum, which runs to the middle of October, according to the organizers, is to publicize traditional Chinese music and help the participants better understand it and give them a chance to compose some music using Chinese folk tunes.

Chinese musicians at a press conference for the music forum held in Beijing, on July 26. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

They will also have a chance to visit several cities along the Silk Road, the ancient trade route to Central Asia and Europe and there will be a carnival, where artists from countries along the Silk Road will perform.

Han Lei, a singer who is taking part in the event, said that it provides a site where musicians can communicate with each other, while Yan Su, a Chinese lyricist, said, "I am looking forward to getting inspiration from tour in Gansu and composing more popular music."

Edited by Roger Bradshaw