Tibetan folk art Batang Xianzi, a well-preserved tradition

A man named Tashi performs the folk art Batang Xianzi in Batang county, Sichuan province, August 27, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

With a history spanning over 1,000 years, Batang Xianzi is a beautiful and lyrical combination of Tibetan folk songs and dances. It was listed among the first group of China's national intangible heritage items in 2006. The government of Batang county has invested funds and talent on preserving Batang Xianzi in recent years, and children in the county begin to learn the folk art when they are young. Nowadays, the performers of Batang Xianzi span four generations, namely, the elderly, middle-aged, and the young as well as children.