Xinjiang girl turns runway into a stage for ethnic cultures

Guyay, a young Kirgiz woman from Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang, is also a contracted model at Milan Fashion Week. Growing up in a yurt, she takes pride in being a member of the Chinese nation. From a young age, she listened to "Manas" – one of China's three great epics – sung by her grandmother and mother.

In recent years, she has returned to her hometown to organize the Xiji Fashion Show. Breaking from traditional forms, she invited local villagers to participate, incorporated rural plants and ethnic musical instruments into the show venue, and blended ethnic intangible cultural heritage with rural culture, bringing ethnic traditions to life on the fashion stage.