The Uygur Muqam art, an ancient synthesis of song, dance and instrumentation, has experienced a new vigor in its birthplace of Shache county, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Inscribed by UNESCO in 2005 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the 12 Muqam genres date back to the mid-16th century. Palace performers of that era compiled folk melodies sung for millenniums into 12 anthologies, giving rise to the 12 Muqams as they are known today. This rich heritage earned Shache the moniker hometown of the 12 Muqams.

To safeguard this cultural legacy, Shache established the Muqam Heritage Center in 2007 and launched the 12 Muqams culture and art festival. This catalyzed a multifaceted drive to inherit, promote and breathe new life into the age-old traditions.

Beyond its exhibitions of artifacts and musical instruments, the center trains folk artists recruited from local villages, hosting daily rehearsals and performances. Inheritors now hone their craft here, enchanting visitors with shows that unveil the splendors of this cultural gem.

Whether urban or rural, Shache's residents from all walks of life share a passion for the 12 Muqams. Wherever people congregate, the melodies and dances arise. Over 1,000 registered Muqam artists span venerable masters and prodigious youth, all able to sing or dance excerpts from the revered anthologies.

"I grew up listening to it from my parents. And I started to learn from my father in the 1970s," said Yusup Tonhti, a 75-year-old national inheritor. "While musical fads ebb and flow, the timeless classics of Muqam endure."

"The Muqam scores are intricate, posing great challenges for self-taught folk artists," he said, adding that the center became a big school and stage, filled daily with songs and dances.

In recent years, the county has bolstered heritage preservation through annual training, monthly living allowances for practitioners, and daily performances to pass the traditions across generations.

To ensure a sustainable lineage, the county has intensified efforts to cultivate Muqam talents, frequently hosting art festivals and singing competitions that elevate the art form's popularity.

The booming tourism sector has infused new opportunities and vitality into ancient Shache's Muqam traditions. As the county drives high-quality tourism growth, it prioritizes safeguarding this intangible heritage to revitalize the time-honored 12 Muqams.

Since the center's founding, Muqam enthusiasts have flocked here to exchange skills while audiences come to enjoy the reverberating melodies. "Our center sometimes hosts multiple shows daily," Yusup said.

"Witnessing the lively atmosphere of the Muqam performances, I couldn't help but join in the dancing, infected by their passion and energy," said a tourist from Guangzhou surnamed Wei.

"I felt that Xinjiang's ethnic diversity and integration have a profound history after visiting the Yarkand relics. It's gratifying to see these traditions being inherited and carried forward in our nation today," she added.