Northern Shaanxi folk songs, originating from and thriving on the vast expanse of northwest China's Loess Plateau, are a living testament to the unique cultural tapestry woven by the distinctive geographical features of this ancient land. For millennia, the resilient local people have found inspiration in the undulating landscape, which has provided a fertile ground for the creation and inheritance of northern Shaanxi folk songs.

In this expansive realm of song, encompassing nearly 100,000 square kilometers across 25 cities, counties and districts on the Loess Plateau, people can effortlessly immerse themselves in the enchanting melodies of northern Shaanxi folk tunes, each narrating a tale as diverse as the landscape itself.

The reservoir of northern Shaanxi folk songs is a treasure trove. Since being discovered by musicians from the Luxun Academy of Fine Arts in Yan'an from 1938, recording and documentation have never ceased over the past 80 years. The number of songs recorded during different periods ranges from mere dozens to over 10,000, creating a collection that overflows with cultural richness. Yet, even with this vast repository, new northern Shaanxi folk songs continue to be created, accumulating over time to forge a monument carrying the cultural memories of the local people.

These folk ballads, representing singers' inner thoughts, are a testament to the ingenuity of the people of northern Shaanxi. They are adept at expressing various emotions in productive labor, festival temple fairs, hardships, grievances, love and marriage through folk songs. They sing with spontaneity and expressiveness, making this art form an encyclopedia revealing the society, history, culture, folk beliefs and nuanced human relationships on the Loess Plateau.

Northern Shaanxi folk songs epitomize profound beauty, resounding through poetic verses and resonant melodies. Bold yet unpretentious, rich and profound, they have weathered the tumultuous shifts in the 20th century and experienced different periods of traditional folk tunes, revolutionary historical folk songs and contemporary melodies. Each era has left behind its own classics, and each song reflects a deeply moving historical narrative, worthy of further exploration, contemplation and appreciation by contemporary audiences.