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Contest

At the peak of the Hua'er Meeting, pairs of man and woman singers usually perform in the antiphonal style. After they finish each ditty, the audience would toast to them, before continuing to sing. After a few rounds, those who cannot stick to the end will be eliminated, and the best singer will be selected to challenge the best of the neighboring group. The audience of each group will also escort the group's singer and cheer for the singer to join another one.

As the number of the groups decreases, the size grows. At the end, all the singers and audiences will gather into one very huge group, thus beginning the championship contest.

Besides being a competition of voice and aria, the contest also requires high standards concerning the performer's ability in improvising lyrics and answering the audience's questions. The lyrics are supposed to be vivid, precise, and innovative. The first two lines should be cited from literary classics, novels, folk mythologies, legends and historical stories; and the latter two should be in rhyme. Four to five champions will be selected, and after the contest, all the singers will exchange presents and make friends with each other.

Not only does the local singers take part in the Hua'er Meetings; singers from neighboring counties or even neighboring provinces also participate. Silent mountains and fields turn into a jubilant world with Hua'er songs floating everywhere, binding the hearts of the youth together. Under such atmosphere, clever and improvised lyrics and classic dialogues between the lovers frequently abound.
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