Rivers and lakes meet, 26 cities' 'folk stars' sing at Yangzhou's 'village evening'

Editor: Lily LiOctober 18, 2026

According to the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism: In order to further highlight the unique brand of the Yangtze River Delta Village Evening City Alliance, expand the influence of regional public cultural activities, and improve the quality and efficiency of public cultural services across the province, on October 17,

Rivers and lakes meet again — The First Yangtze River Delta Village Gala City Alliance Promotion and the 2026 'I Want to Be on the Village Gala, Let's Go to Yangzhou Together' Music Festival

Singing at the Yangzhou World Expo Park, the 2026 Yangzhou 'Village Gala,' which lasted seven months, has come to an end. This event was guided by the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and co-hosted by the Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Center, Shanghai Mass Art Center, Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Center, Anhui Provincial Cultural Center, Yangzhou Culture, Radio, TV and Tourism Bureau, among others. The total number of online viewers for the event reached

Rivers, lakes, and seas all meet, Event site of the 26th activity

The performance is set against natural rock walls and layered screens, using water as a vein to create a stage ambiance where rivers, lakes, and seas converge. The whole show is presented by outstanding performers from 'village galas' across 26 cities in the Yangtze River Delta, divided into three chapters: 'All Lakes and Seas,' 'Great Rivers,' and 'Meeting in Yangzhou.' It combines various forms like opera and song medleys, dances, classical singing, Beijing-style rhythm, and pop music. Yangju, Huju, Yueju, and Huangmei opera are intertwined on the same stage, with young singers from different cities performing the same songs together, showcasing the diverse cultural life of the Yangtze River Delta. In the finale, a full-cast sing-along of 'I Love You, China' along with a light show featuring a thousand drones takes the event to its peak, while the winners, runners-up, third-place, and fan-favorite performers of this year's 'village gala' are announced on the spot.

The 2026 Yangzhou 'Village Gala' kicked off on March 27 and featured 20 auditions, 4 qualifying rounds, 2 finals, and 5 tour performances, attracting thousands of contestants from 26 cities across the Yangtze River Delta. Among them were farmers singing in the fields, young people just starting their careers, retirees picking up sheet music again, and international students studying in Yangzhou performing songs in Chinese. The event sticks to the idea of 'people in the spotlight,' giving ordinary people who love what they do and live life with effort a chance to go from the audition stage all the way under the spotlight, showcasing a culture that everyone can share and participate in.

This year, the event is connecting 26 cities across Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui for the first time, forming the Yangtze River Delta Village Gala City Alliance. It set up a cross-regional collaboration system for promoting participants to each other, sharing resources, co-hosting events, and building brands together, aiming to turn rural culture in the Yangtze River Delta into a connected network. At the event, the leaders of cultural centers and art centers from Taizhou and Yixing in Jiangsu, Haining in Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Jingxian in Anhui were appointed as 'Yangzhou Cultural and Tourism Ambassadors,' adding new energy to public cultural cooperation in the Yangtze River Delta.

Rivers, lakes, and seas will meet, Live 2

At the event site, the intangible cultural heritage exhibition area and the special agricultural, cultural, and tourism product sales area were open at the same time. The Expo Park also set up a 70s and 80s nostalgia interactive game area, where classic games like rolling hoops, hopscotch, and spinning tops attracted visitors to stop and join in, adding a sense of nostalgia and interactive fun amid the singing and lively atmosphere. Traditional crafts such as Yangzhou brush making, woodblock printing, and paper cutting were demonstrated on-site. Visitors could enjoy performances, shop at the market, and taste delicious food, with the stage music and market buzz complementing each other. The event created an integrated model of 'villagers’ evening programs setting the stage, touring performances empowering the event, and markets adding color,' allowing people to enjoy a cultural feast while experiencing traditional crafts, picking up unique cultural products, and sampling local delicacies.

"Since its inception in 2023, the 'I'm Going to the Village Gala – Let's Enjoy Yangzhou Together' event has won accolades such as the 'Top Ten Projects' and 'Outstanding Case' in Jiangsu Province's public cultural services, and has been selected for three consecutive years as a national 'Village Gala' demonstration site. The event focuses on bringing quality cultural resources to local communities, allowing people to enjoy cultural services right at their doorstep through auditions, tours, and markets. At the same time, using the Yangtze River Delta Village Gala City Alliance as a link, it promotes resource sharing, joint events, and brand building among Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui, fostering a deep cultural integration in the region. From one city in Yangzhou to 26 cities across the Yangtze River Delta, this year's event, named 'Encounter,' extends meetings across rivers, lakes, and seas into the exchange of songs and people, providing a practical example for public cultural collaboration and rural cultural revitalization in the region."

Jasmine Blooms · Enjoy Great Shows Right at Your Doorstep, Many Exciting Performances Across Jiangsu During the National Day Holiday

Enjoy a good show and check out the trendy market, let's meet in the autumn night of the town where jasmine blooms