International accordion festival turns Tacheng into an open-air music stage
The 6th Xinjiang Tacheng International Accordion Art and Culture Festival brought local and international performers together in Tacheng, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Located near the border with Kazakhstan and historically linked to the northern branch of the ancient Silk Road, the city uses the festival as a platform for cultural exchange. Musicians performed in public spaces and at pop-up “Melody Market” shows.
The program featured solo pieces as well as familiar melodies such as “Katyusha,” drawing residents from different ethnic groups into spontaneous dancing in public squares.
Moldovan accordionist Lev Solomonovich said the audience in Tacheng did not simply listen, but became part of the performance. After his scheduled appearance, he joined other musicians for an impromptu session.
The festival also moved music beyond traditional stages. In the evening, balconies became performance spaces, removing the usual separation between musicians and audiences.
Alexander Selivanov, chairman of the Music Committee of the Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes, compared the scale of the event to “Olympic Games for accordion.”
According to CCTV+, Tacheng, known locally as China's “Accordion City,” uses events like this to strengthen cultural exchange and bring residents, visitors and performers together through music.
