Heartbeat of the grassland: The living song of Sambuu's morin khuur

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Sambuu performed the morin khuur at a concert held in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China. /CGTN

Sambuu performed Mongolian folk songs alongside folk artists. /CGTN

Sambuu performed Mongolian songs on the Bayinbuluke Grassland. /CGTN

Close-up of a morin khuur. /CGTN

Sambuu taught the child to play the morin khuur. /CGTN

Sambuu recorded songs in the studio. /CGTN

The morin khuur, also known as the horse-head fiddle, originated from the northern grasslands of China over 800 years ago. Recognized as a masterpiece of intangible cultural heritage by both China and the United Nations, this instrument stands as the most iconic symbol of Mongolian musical tradition. Legend has it that it was created by a herder to commemorate his beloved horse. Its sound imitates the wind's howl, the beat of hooves and the horse's neigh.

Sambuu is a morin khuur performer in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. He started learning the bowed string instrument at the age of 17. Since then, mastering and promoting the morin khuur has become his life's mission, whether by teaching children or getting bands together.

His dedication ensures that the haunting, evocative song of the morin khuur is not just a relic of the past, but a resonant, living voice that continues to capture the spirit of the grasslands for generations to come.

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