The Xiaohuajiao Children's Choir from Wen County, Gansu Province, takes the stage alongside five other choirs to perform the classic piece The Same Song. (Photographed by Lin Junbin)

Pingtan, an island off the coast of Fujian province and the closest place on the mainland to Taiwan Island, is a vibrant hub renowned for its stunning beaches and growing international influence. Recently, the island's International Performing Arts Center played host to a heartwarming musical event—the "A Thousand Voices in Harmony: A Cappella" concert, part of the 2025 Pingtan Island Chorus Festival.

The concert shone a spotlight on the Xiaohuajiao Children's Choir from Wen County, Gansu. Hailing from the Qinling-Bashan Mountains, these 20 young singers, clad in the traditional attire of the Baima Tibetan ethnic group, traveled over 2,000 kilometers to take part in the performance. Their rendition of the classic The Same Song captivated the audience with its pure and uplifting harmonies, filling the auditorium with charm.

Among the choir members was 13-year-old Ban Qin, one of the foundingmembers. As a Baima Tibetan, she has always had a deep love for singing and a natural talent for it. Her hometown, Wen County, lies in a remote, mountainous region where Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi provinces meet. In a family where her father works away from home, Ban Qin helps her mother with household chores after school.

However, her life took a turn for the better when the choir was established. In 2022, with the support of journalists from the All - China Journalists Association, the Liaoning Journalists Association, and the Shenyang Daily, Dongba Middle School in Wen County (now renamed Chengguan No. 3 Primary School) founded China's first children's choir mainly consisting of left - behind children. Since then, music teachers from Shenyang have made regular trips to Wen County to train the children. As the children's singing skills improved, the choir, later named "Xiaohuajiao" (Little Pepper) after the local cash crop, started to gain recognition far and wide.

Music has opened up a whole new world for these children and broadened their horizons. Before joining the choir, Ban Qin had never stepped out of her hometown. But now, she has performed in many cities across China and even on international stages in Vienna, Sydney, and Singapore. "I'm extremely happy and excited to be here in Pingtan, sharing the stage with choirs from all over the country. This has truly broadened my musical horizons," Ban Qin said. The concert was a great success. When the stage lights came on, the children's joy was clearly visible to everyone. Their performance of "The Children in the Mountains" was particularly touching, with lyrics that expressed their desire to explore a wider world. "The sea is so beautiful, just like in the pictures! It's my first time seeing it up close," exclaimed 13- year-old Liyan Jiarui, a senior member of the choir. She joined the choir with the hope of becoming a music teacher in the future, so that she can inspire other children in her hometown.

After the concert, the children got to fulfill their long - cherished wish of seeing the sea. The next morning, they visited Longwangtou Ocean Park. As they ran on the beach, feeling the sea breeze on their faces and the sand between their toes, some of them, who had only seen the sea in books before, were filled with a sense of wonder. "You can really taste the salt in the sea a...that's something you can't learn from a book," said young choir member Ma Haozhe.

Ban Qin also had her own little plan. She asked her teacher to take photos of the sea so that she could show them to her mother and friends back home. "The choir has taught me that music can be a lifelong companion. Wherever I go in the future, I will keep singing," she said. Additionally, she shared that her dream is to become a police officer one day, so that she can protect the children in her hometown.