Top of the World - Everest Poetry and Music Concert
The majestic Mount Everest stands tall in the clouds, welcoming visitors to the beauty of Tibet. On October 11, the “Top of the World – Everest Poetry and Music Concert” made a stunning debut at Basong Village, located at the foot of Mount Everest. This marked the first time a large-scale multimedia poetry and music event was held at the top of the world.
The concert consisted of three segments: “Above the Summit,” “Voice of the Brave,” and “Light of Dreams.” Guests from poetry, music, culture, arts, and sports sectors, both domestic and international, used poetry and music as mediums to tell stories of resilience and the pursuit of dreams, celebrating the natural, ecological, and cultural beauty of Mount Everest. The event offered a visual and auditory cultural feast to audiences from around the world.
“Today, at the foot of Mount Everest, I present my piece ‘Above My Hometown.’ In my years of work, this is the first time I have stood so close to Mount Everest, singing my own song with these lovely children, and promoting Tibetan culture and attire. It is a truly moving experience,” said singer Drolma Yangzom.
Danzeng Yixi, a Lhasa Zhamunie plucking and singing folk music heritage inheritor, explained that they incorporated elements of Tibetan opera into their performance. “Through this platform, we hope to showcase the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation to the world, encouraging more people to pay attention to our cultural heritage.”
The concert was filled with melodious music and poetic charm. CCTV host Gang Qiang, Xia Boyu, the first legless person to summit Everest, and Chen Renjie, the 8th Lu Xun Literature Prize winner, recited excerpts from the poem “Himalaya,” unveiling the mystery of Mount Everest and showcasing its unique culture. Chen Renjie commented, “Mount Everest is the peak of the world, not only geographically but also spiritually. From here, we can find the very essence of poetry. As I walked through Tibet’s snow-capped mountains and grasslands, my poetry flowed ceaselessly, like the snowmelt, sprouting with vitality like the grass.”
“After five years, coming back to Tibet, I see so many changes,” said Mo Yan, a reporter for CGTN French Channel. “Being able to stand on the top of the world, presenting the charm of classical poetry to a global audience, and conveying the beauty of culture is incredibly joyful. I hope more people from abroad can come and experience the beauty of Tibet firsthand.”
The event concluded successfully with all performers singing “We Are the World” together.
The concert was co-organized by the Publicity Department of the Tibet Autonomous Region Party Committee, CCTV’s Yangshipin, CGTN, Tibet Headquarters, Beijing Headquarters, the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Tibet Radio and Television, the Shigatse Municipal Party Committee, and the Shigatse Municipal Government. It was a key part of the large-scale multimedia event “Across Mountains and Seas, Gesang Blossoms – Exploring China by Bus: Tibet Journey.”
Next, the “Exploring China by Bus: Tibet Tour” live broadcast team will head to Chamdo, Shigatse, Ngari, and other regions, leveraging media resources to showcase the natural, historical, cultural, and ethnic beauty of Tibet, as well as its inclusive and open spirit, telling the story of a united, prosperous, civilized, and eco-friendly Tibet in the new era.
