Traditional dance of northern Tibet pastoral area—Baingoin Shechin dance has been seen on stage from 2011 through 2016 during the Tibetan New Year Gala, and has gradually become one of Tibet’s original cultural brands.

Nyima Township, a pastoral area, is the birthplace of Baingoin Shechin dance. “Shechin”, meaning big song in Tibetan language, is a combination of northern Tibet songs for salt-carrying, salt and grain exchange, sheep-shearing, yogurt-making, herding and other laborious work as well as folk songs to extol the natural landscape.

Baingoin County “Shechin” dance is based on the content and rhythm of each song’s lyrics, with light and quick steps, which other Tibetan dances do not have. There are over 100 traditional lyrics, more than 20 melodies, which can be combined into more than 20 dances.

“I hope to delve deeper into Tibet’s unique cultural program, which is brought to a wider audience through the Tibetan New Year Gala,” said Gonpo, the head director of a previous Tibetan New Year Gala, who vigorously promoted the traditional Baingoin Shechin dance.

It is believed that Baingoin Shechin dance has a history of several hundred years, passed on from generation to generation of villagers. Shading, a playwright with the Tibet Song and Dance Troupe, is very optimistic about this traditional program. He said that it is necessary to retain the original culture, people’s simple expressions, their zest for life and smiles from the bottom of their hearts.

Tsering Tashi, county magistrate of Baingoin County, said that the next step is to refine Baingoin Shechin dance and other cultural tourism programs of the Namtso Lake area, getting the herders who have lived here for generations involved in the development of Namtso’s tourism industry.