Crowds revel in Hakka traditions and pop beats

Gankeng Hakka Town, a popular tourist destination in Longgang District, was bustling with weekend crowds. Visitors flocked to relish delicious local snacks, snap the distinct Hakka architecture set against serene scenery, and explore the area’s unique culture.

The fun doubled Saturday with two concerts — an afternoon of traditional Hakka songs and an evening of Hakka pop music.

The qilin dancers during a parade at Gankeng Hakka Town on Saturday. Photos courtesy of the event organizers

The afternoon event began with a parade of traditional Hakka qilin dancers, who made stops at Guan Yu’s Temple, the gun tower, and other historic landmarks. The audience then enjoyed authentic Hakka songs like “Qilin Dance” and “Blooming Flowers in Longgang,” joining in a vigorous chorus when invited by the performers.

Zhang Yang during his performance.

A highlight was the qilin dance performance accompanied by exciting drum beats, delivered by renowned percussionist Xue Yongjun and his pupil Zhang Yang. Xue performed on a traditional Chinese drum while Zhang echoed on a modern drum kit.

Audience members without a seat watch Saturday’s concert from a nearby spot.

The 100-minute evening show featured a group of Hakka musicians exploring new possibilities by merging pop elements with their native dialect. Luo Weili, a native of Heyuan City and winner of China’s Urban Ballad Contest in 2022, lit up the crowd with his heady rhythms and passionate singing. While modestly influenced by Hakka folk music, Luo’s songs pay tribute to the life wisdom of the Hakka people, setting colloquial lyrics to catchy melodies and rock and roll rhythms.

Lai Weijun, a representative of Hakka pop, performed a humorous number inspired by Hakka mountain songs, depicting an old married couple in a quibbling duet. Lai and his Elephant Band also performed a melodious, melancholy song he wrote years ago about a young man missing his hometown and love while pursuing his dreams elsewhere.

Qiulin (C) and his band at Saturday evening’s concert at Gankeng Hakka Town.

The performance climaxed with Qiu Lin, who won the Best Hakka Album at Taiwan’s Golden Melody Awards in 2018 for “Da Ling Jiao Xia” (“At the Foot of Daling Mountain”). The audience heard highlights from his previous albums, including the titular track, which reminisces about his beautiful hometown.

In addition to the concerts, visitors enjoyed an intangible cultural heritage fair from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., which exhibited approximately 20 local traditions.

Visitors huddle at the booths of the intangible culture heritage fair at Gankeng Hakka Town on Saturday.

Curated by the Longgang Hakka Pop Music Association (LHPMA) and subsidized by the district’s culture and tourism authorities, the day’s event aimed to attract more visitors and build Longgang’s reputation as a “fun destination.”