Hong Kong Daily Telegraph • Xiangjiang News, Haidong (By CAN correspondent Xue Feng) In the autumn of Qinghai's highlands, Haidong City unfolds like a vibrant tapestry of ecological splendor, thriving industries, emerald mountains, and crimson pomegranates. Here, ethnic groups blend seamlessly, sharing the warmth of kinship in this harmonious' gallery' of unity and progress.
Since ancient times, Haidong has been a place where many ethnic groups live together. After thousands of years of integration and evolution, these ethnic groups have formed the six main ethnic groups living in Qinghai: Han, Tibetan, Hui, Tu, Mongolian and Salar.
Since the beginning of this year, Haidong City has focused on the main line of strengthening the sense of community of the Chinese nation, and innovatively implemented the five-dimensional linkage of "creation, integration, embedding, guidance and training", promoting the work in an all-round and multi-level manner, and achieved remarkable results.
At Qutan Temple in Ledu District, Haidong City, preserved murals and Buddha statues vividly depict Buddhist narratives and scenes from various ethnic communities. The Longguo Hall features a Han-style beam-and-arch structure with intricately crafted dougong brackets, while its Tibetan-style golden roof showcases the splendor of Tibetan architectural ornamentation. This temple stands as a prime example of the harmonious fusion between Han and Tibetan architectural traditions.
Every year during the sixth lunar month, ethnic groups including Han, Tibetan, Hui, and Tu people perform "Hua 'er" (Flower Songs) to celebrate the Hot Mountain Ridge. From temple fairs during the Daoguang era to today's performances as a representative intangible cultural heritage, Hua 'er has transcended its original role as mere "love songs." It embodies the bold spirit of Tibetan "Lai," the passionate energy of Tu "Nadun," the fusion of Hua Xiu Tibetan "Lai" with Hehuang "Hua' er," and remains an emotional code deeply ingrained in the blood of plateau people.
Now, Haidong city has held seven consecutive "Qinghai Silk Road Flower Art Festival", which has become a feast of audio-visual culture exchange among all ethnic groups in Haidong, and a grand gathering of spiritual dependence and spiritual communication among all ethnic groups.
Guided by the principle of "innovation," Haidong City has deeply integrated ethnic unity education into all aspects of cadre training, school education, and social education. It has launched a series of innovative initiatives including the "Outstanding New Media Works Award Collection for Strengthening the Chinese National Community Awareness," "School Education Essay Contest," "Embedded Environmental Case Studies Collection," and "Pomegranate Blossoms Shine in Haidong: Pomegranate Seed Story Collection." These tangible, emotionally resonant, and effective measures collectively reinforce the concept of community cohesion.
In 2002, a group of noodles dating back 4,000 years was discovered at the Lajia Ruins in Haidong City's Minhe Hui and Tu Autonomous County. Bridging time and geographical divides, these noodles have become a cultural bridge for generations of Haidong residents. They harmonize flavors from diverse regions while weaving tales of ethnic unity and mutual support, transforming a simple bowl of pulled noodles into a symbol of "unity, prosperity, and harmony."
Nowadays, Haidong Lamyuan shops have spread to more than 300 cities across the country, with a total of more than 32,000, creating more than 170,000 jobs for people of all ethnic groups, and an annual turnover of more than 16 billion yuan. A complete industrial chain of "planting, processing, training, franchising and logistics" has been established.
From qinghai's barley flour, Gansu's beef and mutton to Xinjiang's spices, local specialty ingredients flow across regions through the ramen industry chain, forming an economic network of "you in me and I in you".
In Huangpu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, the local Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission launched a campaign titled "A Bowl of Ramen, a Chat, a Friend." Through this initiative, ramen shops have evolved from mere food providers into cultural bridges that strengthen ethnic bonds.
Haidong City has been expanding its inclusive development through the concept of 'integration', with coverage continuously expanding. It has been advancing the 'Ten-Entry' campaign to strengthen the sense of community among Chinese ethnic groups, extending efforts into government agencies and enterprises. The city has jointly established three pilot 'Gongzheng Shiliu Zi Community Homes' and built seven 'Tongxin Yuan Book Houses', providing learning and exchange platforms for staff from all ethnic groups.
Meanwhile, the city strengthened cross-regional collaboration management by signing the "Ethnic and Religious Affairs Coordination Mechanism" with Yichang Municipal Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau in Hubei Province, promoting data sharing and operational synergy. Haidong City actively integrated into regional development through in-depth consultations with Linxia Prefecture's Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission in Gansu Province. Initial consensus was reached on key initiatives including signing cooperation agreements, mutual learning, developing distinctive cultural tourism routes, hosting ethnic cultural exhibitions, organizing youth "hand-in-hand" study tours, and co-hosting ethnic product trade fairs, all aimed at fostering cross-regional integration and mutual development.
In Haidong, archery remains a cherished sport shared by all ethnic groups. The art of "arrow masters" has been passed down through generations. Archers from Tibetan, Han, and Hui communities gather to exchange skills, while vendors fill the air during competitions. The melodious "Hua'er" folk songs and the soulful "Lai" ballads create a vibrant atmosphere. Archery has become a vital bridge for cultural exchange, social interaction, and ethnic integration among the local communities.
In Hualong County, the hometown of ramen, every village has the traditional custom of inviting each other to shoot arrows every winter. With the development of economy and the continuous improvement of people's living standards, the traditional sport of shooting arrows has been further developed. Every year, there are more than 1,000 invitational shooting competitions held between villages, townships and associations.
This year, Haidong City has prioritized strategic guidance to advance modernization, while strengthening policy enforcement and regulatory oversight. The city conducted a comprehensive self-assessment of the implementation of the Party and state's ethnic policies and laws in 2024. Special funds were allocated efficiently, with 101.41 million yuan from provincial ethnic development funds precisely supporting 60 targeted projects.
The "Healthy Tea Consumption" and "Door-to-Door Tea Delivery" initiatives have benefited 239,500 people from various ethnic groups. The city actively applied for and implemented 300,900 yuan in interest subsidies for loans to ethnic minority businesses, supporting six enterprises to boost market vitality. Meanwhile, it deepened community integration practices by guiding Qilidian Community in Ledu District to steadily advance the "Harmonious Integration and Unity Circle" pilot project approved by the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, with interim results already submitted.
Currently, six regions and units in Haidong City have applied for the 12th batch of "National Model Units for Ethnic Unity and Progress," with four being included in the provincial-level cultivation list. Tumeng Tu Autonomous County has been recommended to apply for the third batch of "Pilot Regions for Common Modernization of All Ethnic Groups." Three community projects have applied for the National Ethnic Affairs Commission's "2025 Pilot Project for Mutual Integration Development Among All Ethnic Groups."
