Nán Wàng Jīn Xiāo | Chinese Folk Songs Project - Chinese Folk Songs for Music Teachers

Nán Wàng Jīn Xiāo
(Unforgettable Night)
By Qiao Yu and Wang Ming

This song would work well as part of a Chinese New Year celebration. It is a song of blessing, blessing for the country its people. The feeling from the music is one of richness and fullness.

I had the opportunity to attend several banquets during one of my visits to Shouguang Century School. At one banquet, my translator was explaining the Folk Song Collection Project to a principal. The next moment, the principal started singing this song in a low, operatic voice. Slowly all of the attendees of the banquet also began to sing. Once again, I was amazed at how music brings people together and how, in China, they share such a rich song tradition.

Pinyin Version

Nán wàng jīn xiāo,
nán wàng jīn xiāo,
bǔ lùn tiān yá yǔ jiǎo,
shén zhōu wàn lǐ tóng huái bào,
gòng zhù yuàn zǔ guó hǎo zǔ guó hǎo.
gòng zhù yuàn zǔ guó hǎo.
gòng zhù yuàn zǔ guó hǎo.

Gào bié jīn xiāo, gào bié jīn xiāo,
bǔ lùn xīn yǒu, yǔ gù jiāo,
míng nián chūn lái zài xiāng yāo,
qīng shān zài rén weì lǎo rén weì lǎo.
qīng shān zài rén weì lǎo.
qīng shān zài rén weì lǎo.
rén weì lǎo.

English Translation

Tonight is unforgettable.
Tonight is unforgettable.
It does not matter if you are in the farthest corner of the land or sea.
We are in the same arms of our vast country.
Together we wish for the well being of our homeland.
We wish for the well being of our homeland.
We wish for the well being of our homeland.

Farewell tonight.
Farewell tonight.
It does not matter if we are old friends or new ones.
We will meet again next spring.
The green mountains will still be there.
People will still be young, still be young.