Pic story: choir in N China's impoverished mountain areas

Villagers listen to a chorus performance by the Hunyuan County Choir of Impoverished Mountain Areas in Jingzhuang Village, Hunyuan County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 3, 2019. In July 2017, the Hunyuan County Choir of Impoverished Mountain Areas was established under an initiative by composer Gan Lin to help promote culture and art among rural residents during the local poverty alleviation campaign. The choir consists of nearly 200 members, over half of whom come from impoverished mountain villages in Hunyuan County. Since its establishment, the choir has played a key role in major cultural events held for the rural population. "We are working to make chorus performances available in every village of Hunyuan County, while recruiting new members from all villages," says Cheng Tianyou, the choir leader. "And it seems that goal is not beyond reach." (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)