When you come to Guiyang, you will be suggested to go to a must-see gala of folk singing and dancing — Colorful Guizhou. Over the past ten years, when night falls, the gala is on the show. With four different versions, the gala has been performed over 4,000 times by now. The distinct Guizhou style has brought the show out of the country to more than 20 countries, including the United States, France, Canada, Britain, Russia, and South Korea. In order to bring the best performance to the audience, a couple rarely traveled for leisure, but stayed on stage and devoted their enthusiasm and performance to audiences in different countries. They are Cao Jinpeng, the host of Colorful Guizhou, and Zheng Hanyue, the lead singer.

The show attracts audiences around the country. They are from different places and have customs and tastes. To better engage the audience in the show, Cao Jinpeng is carefully prepared by studying the history, culture and customs of different parts of China. Therefore, he can make the audiences feel at home by chatting with them at ease about the customs and histories of their hometowns. “I want to understand the audience’s hometowns and their cultures. If I merely focus on displaying my own hometown, yet stay ignorant to theirs, I cannot win their hearts. We cannot seclude ourselves and our show from the outside world”, said Cao.

On the stage of Colorful Guizhou, when the actresses dance, their skirts are fluttering with the flow of light and shadow. The passion and glamour of folk dance is in full display, portraying the magnificent landscape of the Huangguoshu Waterfall. Dong Ka Lau, the cultural heritage which is bred in the Dong villages, is also brought on the stage. The splendid music, accompanied by the cheerful dances, depicts the history of the Miao silverware and embroidery. Moreover, the romantic customs of Miao, Dong, Buyi, Shui, Yi and other ethnic minorities are fully illustrated by multimedia means, making this enchanting gala a significant representative of Guizhou’s ethnic culture.

“We have devoted our youth to the stage since the start of our career ten years ago”, said Zheng Hanyue.“Maybe you can’t travel all over the places where the ethnic minorities live in Guizhou, but this gala gives you the opportunity to take a glance at their customs and culture.”

As the lead singer of the song Love Song for Guizhou, Zheng Hanyue has performed it on the stage of Colorful Guizhou countless times. “I am always asked about whether I am tired of these repeated performances, but to your surprise, the answer is never. To me, most of the audience are guests that we only meet once in our lifetime. We may not meet again for the rest of our lives after the show. Therefore, I will never be bored of performing on the stage, for I want to give the audience the best experience and beautiful memory.”

Zheng Hanyue has sung songs of Guizhou to tourists and foreigners coming from distant places. A French viewer praised that China was such a great country with nice songs, beautiful costumes and friendly people, after hearing her songs. “With confidence in our culture, we have tried to bring the Chinese culture to the rest of the world. Foreigners didn’t know that China had such beautiful cultures and songs. When we performed HXak Yeet (a special song of the Miao ethnic group) and Dong Ka Lau in other countries, local audiences were intoxicated by them regardless of the cultural differences. “Music is the universal language of mankind. Foreigners like our performances too,” said Zheng.

As an “Ambassador for Guizhou Culture and Travel”, Cao Jinpeng is willing to describe the beauty of Guizhou again and again. “As a local, we have the duty to introduce our hometown to the people in other parts of China and the rest of the world, so that they can know the place better.” In the past, the shortage of plains here led to terrible transportation and languish economy, which were obstacles to cultural communication. But, now, expressways are available in each county, highways are a commonplace in villages, and seven out of ten highest bridges in the world are in Guizhou. In addition, thanks to the reasonable development, the local ecological environment is well protected, endowing the place a unique advantage. Therefore, Cao Jinpeng is more eager to tell the beauty of Guizhou to more people, “People are always proud of their own local cultures, so the way of expressing your hometown’s culture really matters if you want others to embrace it. We are still on the road to explore the best way that is audience-oriented, profound in content yet simple in form.”

Cao Jinpeng, as a host, always leads the audience to the world of dancing and singing by his humorous words. Meanwhile, his wife, Zheng Hanyue, is concentrated on expressing her love for Guizhou by songs. “The Love Song for Guizhou tells my love for this land, and I express this love by singing the song to the audience,” she said.

At the end of each performance, Zheng Hanyue sings this song:

I have imagined your appearance, but still can’t help being impressed by your beauty.

My heart flutters when your mysterious veil is removed.

With picturesque mountains and rivers, year-round spring-like weather, enormous forests and waterfalls, you are fascinating.

Guizhou, such a beautiful place, a place hidden deep.

Only a glance, you will be captured by its beauty forever.

I was once attracted by your scenery, but admire your profundity now.

Embraced by your arms, my heart is racing.

Unique customs, beautiful songs and dances, wines and gifts to guests all fascinate people.

Guizhou, an attractive place, a place you will fall in love with one glance.

Once you hold her hand, you will never forget, never…