Little singers touch a million hearts

On a stage more than 2,200 kilometers away from their home in the small village in Puge county, Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province — far removed from the bright lights of China's urban centers — the Niuniu Choir captured hearts at home and abroad.

During China's most-watched TV event of the year — the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, which was broadcast on Jan 28 — the sweet, innocent voices of the children's choir from one of the most remote regions in the country stole the spotlight.

The sight of the 38 smiling girls, aged from 7 to 14, dressed in traditional Yi attire and their pure, clear voices as they sang Jade Plate, elegantly showcased the beauty of Yi culture.

"That was at the end of January. We spent over a month in Beijing preparing and returned home the day after the gala aired. We will never forget the experience of performing on the country's biggest stage," says Jibu Xiaolong, a music teacher from Puge county, who is the founder of the Niuniu Choir.

"The melody is graceful, and the lyrics are poetic," wrote a viewer on social media. "I can feel the children expressing their love for their home, and the beauty of Yi culture, through their singing."

Another viewer wrote, "It's one of my favorite performances in the gala. The children's angelic voices filled the air, a beautiful contrast to the bustling, fast-paced city world."

The children were impressed by the sight of a rocket launch in Xichang, capital of the Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, which is known as "moon city". It is home to the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, the starting point for China's lunar exploration missions. In 2007, the country's first lunar probe, Chang'e 1, was launched from there. Since then, Chang'e 2, 3 and 4 have followed, exploring, orbiting, and landing on the moon. According to Jibu Xiaolong, the inspiration for Jade Plate came from this ongoing exploration and was adapted from a song written by his friend Tan Qiyin called Asking the Moon.

Born in Puge county in 1987, Jibu Xiaolong was the first in his family to attend university. After graduating from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in 2009 with a major in popular singing, he moved to Beijing with dreams of making it in the music industry, like many young people with musical aspirations. But after struggling with odd jobs and failing to get into a troupe, he returned to his hometown in 2011. Eventually, he became a teacher, and he found his true calling: not just teaching, but inspiring children to dream.

In 2017, he transferred to the school where he now works, the Dacao township central primary school in Puge, and began teaching subjects ranging from mathematics to sports. One day, while playing his guitar and singing a pop song on the playground, a group of curious children gathered around, singing along with him. The moment sparked an idea — why not form a choir? With the support of the school leadership, he began organizing a performance.

The choir started small, with only four students initially expressing interest. Over time, more joined, particularly girls, who found joy in singing and thus, the Niuniu Choir was born. The name, which refers to young girls in Yi, is a reflection of warmth and affection.

Starting a choir was not easy. Though naturally talented, the children were often shy and reserved, especially when it came to performing in front of others. Many of them had never sung publicly before. To overcome this, Jibu Xiaolong focused on building confidence, starting with simple solo performances before gradually bringing them together as a group.

He also started to write songs for the choir that were not only tailored to their vocal ranges, but also reflected their lives and the beauty of the natural surroundings. These songs, in both Yi and Mandarin, were about celebrating life, nature, and hope.

One of them, The Song of the Children, was inspired by a visit to a family home, where he saw children gathering firewood and herding animals. Another, Brave Niuniu, was written to encourage the girls to face their fears.

Jibu Xiaolong says that many girls in the region face significant educational challenges. His eldest sister had to leave school when she was 10 because her parents couldn't afford it.

"I simply want these girls to enjoy music and develop hope and courage as a result. Through music, they see a wider world, and have the courage to pursue their dreams," he says.

The choir gained recognition after performing in competitions, and its success led to more opportunities: performances on the county, prefectural, and even national stages. In 2020, the choir went viral after its videos were shared on social media, with one gaining over 600,000 views. This exposure gave the choir much-needed support — donations of instruments, teaching materials, and even financial aid for the girls' families.

Jibu Xiaolong says that beyond material support, the attention they received from people across China gave the girls something far more valuable: confidence.

"Some now hope to become professional singers, while others want to follow in their teacher's footsteps and become educators. For many, the choir has opened doors to a brighter future — one where they can rise above the limitations of their rural upbringings and reach their fullest potential," he says.

Seeing his students perform on one of China's most prestigious stages was a moment of deep fulfillment for Jibu Xiaolong. Far from the mountains that shaped them, they had sung their way into the hearts of millions. He now has new plans for the choir and hopes to attract more members, not only from Liangshan, but from around the country, by launching online choir training programs. He also looks forward to having boys sing together.

Another mission is to collect Yi ethnic folk songs and arrange them for children. "That is our goal as a choir — to reach out to the hearts of more and more people," he says.