A troupe of ethnic performing artists in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, north China, left Saturday for a tour of Thailand and Myanmar during the Spring Festival period, or Lunar New Year which falls on Jan. 22.

The 30-member song and dance ensemble from Holonbuyr City, which headed for the southeast Asian countries at the invitation of cultural ministries of both nations, will stay there for 16 days.

The performances they give will feature the unique art and splendid culture of the nomadic and hunting ethnic groups in northern China, said Qiao Ping, head of the troupe.

Located in the northeastern part of Inner Mongolia, Holonbuyr is a city with a population of 2.7 million from 36 ethnic groups including Mongolia, Daur, Ewenki, Oroqen, Korea and Russia.

The troupe of the city has been highly commended by audience during their trips to the Netherlands, Sweden, Russia, Mongolia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DRPK) over the past 50-plus years after it was formed in 1950.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2004)