There was a special variety show in Sunan Yugur county, Gansu province, at a local theatre, on Dec 28, to ring in the New Year with members of the Ulanmuqi Art Troupe visiting from Inner Mongolia to perform on stage with artists from the Sunan county ethnic group art troupe, and attracting more than 2,600 people.

The Ulanmuqi members put on three performances as part of a larger Sunan New Year's activity. The troupe, established back in 1963, have won many awards in Inner Mongolia and the rest of China, with the Culture Ministry calling them the "pearl of the grassland that makes art blossom".

The Sunan activity is arranged by the local government and culture dept.

Artists from the Inner Mongolia Ulanmuqi Art Troupe performing the Mongolian dance at Sunan Theater. [Photo/ Xinhua]

By Li Xiaoxu and edited by Roger Bradshaw