Children's Voices Blend into World Games Passion, and Melodies Paint Chengdu's New Chapter

   "Panda's Singing" Chengdu (International) Children's Chorus Week 2025 Splendidly Kicks Off

Chengdu in August blazes with passion. Amidst the vibrant atmosphere of TWG 2025 Chengdu's grand opening on August 7, the "Panda's Singing" Chengdu (International) Children's Chorus Week 2025 also presented a touching prelude. This music gala and TWG 2025 Chengdu shone mutually, adding the unique charm of art and friendship to Chengdu, a city that has garnered global attention. Representatives from 21 outstanding children's choirs from around the world, industry experts, and guests gathered in Chengdu, witnessing this cross-border musical appointment in the melodious voices of children. 

Children's Voices Ring Out: Joyful Songs Ignite Chengdu

As a shining "golden business card" for Chengdu's cultural outreach, "Panda's Singing" has been held for eight consecutive years since its inception in 2017. Over the past eight years, guided by the core idea of "Connecting the World through Children's Voices" and building on the innovative integration model of "panda + chorus", the event has attracted participation from over 100 choirs representing more than 20 countries, hosted more than 100 music and cultural exchange activities, and won multiple honors including the 2019 National "Top 10 Excellence Awards in International Communication".

On the morning of August 8, the opening ceremony of the "Panda's Singing" Chengdu (International) Children's Chorus Week 2025 was launched to the cheerful notes of Tiritomba (translated as Call of the Field) by the Fangcao Primary School Choir of Chengdu Hi-Tech Zone. As an "old friend" of the Music Week, the Fangcao Primary School Choir, with their childlike and passionate voices, witnessed the growth and transformation of the Music Week all the way, vividly interpreting the beautiful vision of "breaking barriers with music". 

The Piccolo Coro dell'Antoniano and the Hydrangea Children's Choir, which came from afar, were particularly impressive. These two choirs just amazed global audiences with their pure and highly appealing songs at the opening ceremony of TWG 2025 Chengdu. Their return to the stage injected ongoing cultural resonance into the "dual celebration" of this year's Chengdu (International) Children's Chorus Week and TWG 2025 Chengdu, enabling people to experience the blending and continuation of art across different stages.They also performed the Italian song "Flying Panda" live.

Visionary Address: Music Bridges Continents

Li Jinliang, Deputy Director of Chengdu Radio & Television, on behalf of the sponsor, extended a warm welcome to the guests from all over the world. He said that with TWG 2025 Chengdu now underway, "Panda's Singing" provided an excellent opportunity for Chengdu to fully display the urban character of "coexistence between sports and art". Although distinct in form, both uphold the core concept of "exchange, inclusiveness and common progress". Children coming from afar were invited to forge friendships through songs and fully experience the unique charm of this park city blessed with snow mountains.   

Mr. John Rutz, Artistic Director and Jury for the Panda Prize Choir Competition during the "Panda's Singing" Chengdu (International) Children's Chorus Week 2025 as well as Senior Artistic Director of the Art Committee of INTERKULTUR, praised Chengdu from a professional perspective for building a high-level global platform for children's choral exchanges. He also expressed great expectations for the outstanding performances of the children during the Music Week.

Though delivered from distinct perspectives, the speeches of both speakers converged on the same beautiful vision: "Connecting the world through the voice of children". The speeches not only perfectly captured the eight-year journey of the "Panda's Singing" initiative, but also signaled how this musical gala with renowned openness would evolve into another vital gateway for Chengdu to engage with the world, allowing diverse civilizations to shine even brighter through the interplay of melodies.

Harmonies in Exchange: A Radiant New Chapter for Children's Voices

The pulse of music never ceased, weaving invisible bonds that connect cultures across the world. The Kuala Lumpur Children's Choir from Malaysia took the stage, captivating the audience with their rendition of Jong Jong Inai, a melody that bridged mountains and oceans, evoking profound musical resonance. Following this, Wattana Girls' Chorus from Thailand performed Sawaddee, their pristine voices resonating a carefree spirit strikingly reminiscent of the Sichuan dialect phrase "Bucunzai", meaning "nothing really matters". The performances immersed the venue in a rich tapestry of cultural exchange.

 Young musical ambassadors who had just returned from a European tour—the Chengdu Jiangguo Leruisi Children's Choir and Chengdu Radio & Television Children's Choir—all choirs sang Panda's Paradise together. This theme song promotes both the "Panda's Singing" Chengdu (International) Children's Chorus Week 2025 and TWG 2025 Chengdu. The pure voices of children, interwoven with genuine emotions, conveyed love and hope, ‌etching the vision of "Connecting the World Through Children's Voices" into every heart. This added a touch of warm and moving cultural richness to Chengdu, amplifying its radiance on the global stage.

Amid the vibrant atmosphere, all performing teams of this year's event entered the venue in an orderly manner. Among them were both venerable choirs deeply rooted in the choral field and dedicated to preserving classics, as well as emerging young forces brimming with vitality. The gathering of teams from across the globe mirrored the coming together of athletes at TWG 2025 Chengdu, vividly embodying the inclusive spirit of "One World, One Family" and the power of unity.  

The most thrilling moment came at the opening ceremony: participants holing puzzle pieces joined forces to complete the "Panda's Singing" logo mosaic together. ‌When the complete logo lit up the stage, it shone like a seed bringing together love and music. This represented how children's voices unite across the world, matching perfectly with the World Games' spirit of "Unity and Progress". This moment marked the formal commencement of the musical feast, while also embodying humanity's united journey toward a brighter future, guided by the twin forces of art and sport.   

Music Without Borders: Uniting the World Through Melody

It was reported that over the next 4 days, the "Panda's Singing" event would host a series of activities including choral performances, cultural exchanges, and panda prize choir competitions. Notably, compared to previous editions, this year's event introduced two new features: "Adjudicated Concerts" and "Panda Prize Choir Competitions". This innovative initiative brought together internationally renowned choral experts as jurors, providing participating teams professional and meticulous critiques and guidance in areas such as tone blending, rhythmic precision, and emotional expression. This initiative not only established a global academic exchange platform for children's choirs, advancing choral artistry toward greater standardization and refinement, but also elevated "Panda's Singing" from traditional showcases to an international music platform combining artistic excellence with educational development. Such progress injected new vitality into the development of children's choral arts worldwide.

This children's chorus week transcending distance resonated with the ongoing World Games, jointly demonstrating humanity's shared pursuit of "Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together" Going forward, this event will keep using music to bridge cultures, sharing China's finest traditions through children's voices worldwide while showing the beauty of Chengdu globally. As the voice of this "World-famous Cultural City", it will keep Chengdu shining on the world stage, creating inspiring stories of cultural exchange and artistic legacy.