Set against the Tianshan Mountains and inspired by the Silk Road, the 2026 Xinjiang International Spring Festival Gala, aired on February 15 on major media platforms, showcased the development achievements of Xinjiang through a variety of art forms such as opera, folk art, acrobatics and situational dramas.

Technology embraces art 

A highlight was integrating artificial intelligence generated content (AIGC) technology with classical art. Renowned ink painter Xu Beihong (1895-1953), known for his dynamic horse paintings, was paid a fitting tribute in the Year of the Horse. AIGC technology brought his ink horses to life, who seemed to leap out of the scroll and gallop across the Tianshan and Kunlun mountains.

The stunning opening scene of the gala, featuring thousands of horses galloping in the extreme winter scenery of Xinjiang was shot entirely on location, rather than being filmed in a studio like performances usually are. Then the gala seamlessly transitioned to the studio's live opening dance, The Knight Dance.

While the main venue of the gala was in Urumqi, location shooting was carried out simultaneously in Kashi (Kashgar) and Yili (Ili). The images projected were one of unity and harmony, prosperity and progress, stability and ecological soundness.

The joint performances by electronic bands and ethnic hand drums, the human-machine interaction between magicians and robots, location programs integrating culture and sports, and the interactive cross-opera dialogue between Peking Opera, Qinqiang Opera and Yu Opera were innovations broadening the boundaries of traditional artistic expression and showing Xinjiang's diversity in unity.

Recreating nature's grandeur 

For the opening dance, the key challenge was conveying nature's grandeur on stage, a task undertaken by Aktam Akram, choreographer of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) Acrobatic Troupe, together with Aynigar Erkin from the XPCC Song and Dance Troupe and freelance choreographer Ma Chao.

"It was not just a dance, but a comprehensive artistic work," Aktam told Xinjiang Today, "Unlike previous openings, this year's opening featured grand imagery and a strong narrative. We tried to showcase the breathtaking scenery, unique local customs, and the passionate, unrestrained spirit of the people of Xinjiang through both visual and auditory experiences."

The dance depicted the momentum of 10,000 galloping horses with powerful body language, recreating the spirit and soul of the horses. During the rehearsals, Arman, the lead dancer, who had 80 more dancers following him, were dripping with sweat.

Wei Sijia, dance director of the gala, said another dance Dancing on Horseback, performed by six young dancers from outside Xinjiang along with artists from local art troupes, told the story of ethnic unity.

An international gala 

International elements have become an important feature of the gala. Xiangqin Xiang'ai (Loving Each Other), performed by Five Continents Singing—a band composed of members from five countries, and Future Is Here, jointly sung by a Chinese choir and foreign students, conveyed the warmth of mutual learning among civilizations.

The chorus You and Me, co-performed by the Diplomatic Corps Children's Choir in China and the Xinjiang Daily Children's Choir, built a bridge of friendship through multilingual singing. The cross-talk A Bright Future for Xinjiang showed the open and inclusive modern temperament of Xinjiang through the humorous interaction between Chinese and foreign performers. A Journey of Flowers and Songs, sung by Chinese and foreign singers together, took the gala to its climax.

Foreign performers shared their experiences of living in China and their keen interest in exploring Xinjiang. Anya, a Russian student studying at Nankai University in Tianjin who sang Future Is Here, told Xinjiang Today: "Before coming to Xinjiang, it was a mystery (mysterious place). Now I know that Xinjiang is a place rich in culture, full of warmth and vitality. The Spring Festival Gala serves as a bridge connecting Chinese and Russian cultures, and I'm honored to be part of this bridge."

A Ph.D. candidate from Zimbabwe studying at Zhejiang University, who uses the Chinese name Mi Lai, said the song Future Is Here, which he sang as well, reflects people's aspirations for the future amid the rapid development of the energy industry and AI.

Although Mi Lai has lived in China for eight years, mostly in Zhejiang, it was his first visit to Xinjiang. He enjoyed the local food, dance and vibrant atmosphere, and gained a deeper understanding of the diversity of Chinese culture and the vitality of Xinjiang's development.

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