#baifang

“Baifang” by Hanggai (杭盖乐队). 2014.

Hanggai is an Inner Mongolian folk rock band based in Beijing. Their name “Hanggai” is the Mongolian word for natural landscape, and they incorporate traditional throat singing, morin khuur (horse-hair fiddle), and tobshuur (a two-stringed Mongolian banjo) in their music. They aim to preserve native forms of music by mixing them with modern music elements such as electric guitar, bass, and electronic programming. Amidst both Sinofication of culture and westernization of music, Hanggai promotes “Mongolian spiritual strength.” They amassed popularity after appearing on Chinese reality singing show Sing My Song (中国好歌曲) and have gone on to work with artists such as Khalil Fong.