Linyi melody echoes China-Cambodia friendship
Princess Norodom Jenna from Cambodia (in green) learns the classic Chinese folk song Yimeng Mountain Minor under the guidance of Song Shoulian, a third-generation practitioner of the folk tradition in Feixian county, Linyi, on June 28.
Princess Norodom Jenna, a member of the Cambodian Royal Family, expressed her deep connection to Linyi, Shandong province, during her first official visit to the city on June 26-28.
The princess rose to fame on Chinese social media after performing the classic Chinese folk song Yimeng Mountain Minor in fluent Mandarin during a China-Cambodia cultural exchange event in Phnom Penh this April.
Driven by a deep curiosity about the song's origins, she embarked on her first cultural journey to Linyi – the birthplace of the folk tune.
"Linyi will always be special to me," she said. "It's where the beautiful song Yimeng Mountain Minor was born. It painted a picture of Linyi's soul – gentle, proud, and full of heart."
The folk song Yimeng Mountain Minor, which is now the city song of Linyi, was once selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as one of the "world's outstanding songs".
During her visit, she performed it together with Song Shoulian, a renowned third-generation singer of the folk song in the city's Feixian county, where the song was originally created.
The 74-year-old taught Norodom the traditional way to perform the song and spoke of her as a quick learner.
The two quickly formed a warm and friendly bond, with the princess affectionately referring to Song as "grandma".
A similar connection was established between the princess and the local children who joined the performance. Many described her as "beautiful and gentle", touched by her graceful and friendly presence.
"Before, I loved the melody and the emotions behind it," she said. "But now that I've seen the landscapes and met the local people, the lyrics feel even more real."
Norodom Jenna tries her hand at calligraphy at the Former Residence of Wang Xizhi in Linyi, Shandong province, on June 27.
Norodom, who speaks fluent Chinese, has a deep appreciation for Chinese culture and has actively promoted cultural exchange between China and Cambodia.
"Culture has the power to bring us closer," she said during the visit, expressing her hope to "continue playing a small role in helping the two countries better understand, appreciate, and support each other".
As part of her itinerary, Norodom toured the Former Residence of Wang Xizhi, a legendary calligrapher and scholar of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317–420), where she explored the art of Chinese calligraphy. She experienced traditional Chinese crafts such as paper-cutting, embroidery, and sugar painting.
Linyi, a dynamic city in southeastern Shandong, is renowned for its rich history, thriving trade, and picturesque landscapes. During her visit, Norodom highlighted the city's growing role in regional trade and praised its advanced logistics infrastructure.
She noted that under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) framework, Linyi has the potential to become a vital hub connecting China with Southeast Asia.
It would be meaningful to bring more Cambodian products to Linyi and help Linyi's goods reach Cambodia through the Belt and Road Initiative, she added.
Editor：Lotus