Echoes from the Mountains: Falak and the Dong Grand Song

Falak, meaning "fate" in Persian, is a soulful vocal tradition of the Tajik ethnic group in China's Pamir Plateau. Known for its powerful solo performance, Falak expresses longing, sorrow, and reflections on destiny through haunting mountain melodies. In recognition of its cultural value and endangered status, Falak was inscribed in 2021 on the UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

In contrast, the Dong Grand Song is a remarkable polyphonic a cappella tradition passed down by the Dong ethnic group in southern China, especially in Guizhou and Hunan provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Performed without instruments or conductors, it features intricate harmonies and poetic lyrics that celebrate nature, community and ancestral wisdom. In 2009, it was inscribed on the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for its exceptional artistic and social value.

One sings alone to the heavens, the other in harmony with the earth. Though born from different mountains, both traditions echo the same universal spirit — preserving the soul of ethnic cultures through the power of the human voice.