A group of incredible guides have emerged to introduce Hainan’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) to the world. Through their hard work and dedication, they are bringing these ancient treasures out of the island’s hidden mountain villages and onto the international stage, allowing Hainan’s culture to shine through global cultural exchanges.

Li Bamboo and Wood Melodies Cross the Oceans

In the quest to bring Hainan’s culture to the world, Huang Hailin plays ethereal melodies on traditional Li bamboo and wood instruments.

Having performed on stages across 25 countries, she has revitalized the thousand-year-old culture of the Li people on the international stage.

Huang is a Li bamboo and wood musical instrument cultural heritage representative from Wuzhishan City in central Hainan. She is an artistic guide building a bridge for cultural exchange between China and the world through her perseverance and passion.

Huang Hailin (center)

At the age of 17, while a dancer in the Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County’s Song and Dance Troupe, Huang heard Huang Zhao’an—a national-level Li bamboo and wood instrument cultural heritage representative—playing the nose flute. The soul-stirring timbre captivated her instantly. With a passion for learning this art, she embarked on her newfound path.

In her youth, Huang poured all her energy into mastering these instruments. Her entire monthly salary was spent on purchasing nose flutes, and she was a constant fixture in the rehearsal hall late into the night. Since the scores for Li instruments were traditionally passed down orally without systematic written records, she shadowed veteran artists, following along with their music, recording every note, and practicing endlessly.

This "stubborn" passion laid a solid foundation for Huang’s future work to spread this culture abroad.

In 2009, Huang traveled to Russia with her troupe, marking the first time she brought Li bamboo and wood music to an international stage. When the hollow, floating notes of the nose flute echoed through the theater, the noisy crowd fell silent instantly, then erupted in thunderous and prolonged applause.

At that moment, Huang truly understood that music is a universal language. She realized that the ancient skills of the Li people could be seen and loved by the world. This sparked a conviction: she wanted more people across the globe to hear the heavenly sounds of Li instruments and understand Hainan’s culture.

Over the following decade, Huang visited 25 countries. Every performance became a dialogue between cultures. Foreign audiences showed immense curiosity—they were amazed by the unique playing methods, such as blowing the flute with the nose, or turning a simple leaf plucked from a tree into a musical instrument. Their eyes were filled with wonder and their hearts with admiration.

A scene from a 2024 roadshow in Italy remains the most unforgettable memory of Huang’s journey. After the performance, a middle-aged local man approached and hugged her tightly. Huang learned that he came from a family of craftsmen and was struggling with the heartbreak of seeing his family’s traditional skills facing extinction because the younger generation was unwilling to take up the art.

Seeing Huang bring China's traditional instruments to the world and how this ancient craft is thriving under her stewardship moved him deeply. That cross-border resonance connected two strangers through the power of culture.

"His tears made me realize the weight of the responsibility on my shoulders," Huang admitted. She understood then that she was bringing more than just songs and instruments—she was bringing the hope of passing down traditional cultures to the next generation.

In 2016, she led the establishment of the "Voice of Wuzhishan," the first Li bamboo and wood instrument orchestra in Hainan. By bringing together traditional instruments like the nose flute, zhuoba, and dingdong, she provided opportunities for more people to learn these ancient crafts through professional performances and classes.

Huang’s cultural transmission of art involves both "going out" with courage and "bringing in" with enthusiasm. For instance, Polina, a Russian host from the Hainan International Media Center, was so drawn to the nose flute that she became a student of Huang’s. Huang guided her on her musical journey, helping her not only master the techniques of playing the instrument but also understand the deeper meanings of this Li cultural art.

Huang has also released a solo nose flute album, constantly refining her instrumental craftsmanship and innovating arrangements to ensure that the music retains its traditional beauty while also appealing to modern aesthetics.

"I want to be a link connecting the cultural pulse of Wuzhishan on one end to the world stage on the other, so that the sounds of Li bamboo and wood instruments can reach every corner of the globe," Huang says with simple yet firm resolve.