Xian Xinghai Street

Xian Xinghai Street

In Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan, there is a street named after the renowned Chinese musician Xian Xinghai — Xian Xinghai Street. On October 7, 1998, the Mayor of Almaty issued a mayoral decree to rename the city’s Vladimir Street as Xian Xinghai Street and to erect a monument in honor of Xian Xinghai. On November 16, 1999, the naming ceremony of Xian Xinghai Street and the unveiling of the Xian Xinghai Monument were grandly held in Almaty.

In Kazakhstan, it is customary to name city streets after famous individuals as a way to express respect and honor.

Xian Xinghai arrived in Almaty in 1943 via Moscow, where he spent the last two and a half years of his 40-year life. He was warmly cared for by the local people, which gave him great courage and confidence to compose a series of passionate and enduring masterpieces. During this period, he created his First Symphony "National Liberation", Second Symphony "Sacred War", as well as musical works such as "Chinese Rhapsody", "Amangeldy", and "Man Jiang Hong". He also collected and adapted a large number of Kazakh folk songs, becoming an ambassador who used music to foster friendship between China and Kazakhstan.

To commemorate this great musician, Kazakhstan not only named Xian Xinghai Street in Almaty but also built the Xian Xinghai Monument and Xian Xinghai’s Former Residence, which have become symbols of the friendship between the people of China and Kazakhstan.

Xian Xinghai Street is located in the eastern part of Almaty, running parallel to Baitakadamov Street. Baitakadamov was a famous Kazakh musician, and during those difficult times, this fellow musician from a different country offered selfless help to Xian Xinghai, who was far from home. The two great musicians formed a deep bond of friendship.

The Xian Xinghai Monument stands at the intersection of Xian Xinghai Street and Gagarin Street. The monument is shaped like a lotus flower, with layered lotus leaves at the base and blooming lotus blossoms at the top. The lotus symbolizes purity and elegance, representing Eastern culture. The inscription on the monument, written in Chinese, Kazakh, and Russian, reads: “This street is named Xian Xinghai Street in honor of the outstanding Chinese composer and envoy of friendship and cultural exchange between China and Kazakhstan, Xian Xinghai.” The monument also features a biography of Xian Xinghai and the opening notes of his symphonic poem "Amangeldy", which praises a Kazakh national hero.

In July 1998, during his visit to Kazakhstan, President - and Kazakh President Nazarbayev jointly unveiled the memorial plaque at Xian Xinghai’s Former Residence in Almaty. - personally inscribed a message for the residence: “Remembering Xian Xinghai, the roar of the Yellow River echoes in my ears; visiting a neighboring nation, the flowers of friendship bloom brilliantly.”

Features

In 1998, the city of Almaty decided to name Vladimir Street as Xian Xinghai Street and to erect a monument in his honor. The monument is shaped like a lotus flower, and its inscription, written in Chinese, Kazakh, and Russian, reads: “This street is named Xian Xinghai Street in honor of the outstanding Chinese composer and envoy of friendship and cultural exchange between China and Kazakhstan, Xian Xinghai.”

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Xian Xinghai (1905–1945), born in Panyu, Guangzhou (now Lanhe Town, Nansha District). He came from a poor fishing family. His father died early, and he spent his childhood with his mother and maternal grandfather, often influenced by the nursery rhymes and Cantonese operas sung by his mother, which sparked his early love for music.

In the third year of the Xuantong era (1911), his maternal grandfather passed away, and Xian Xinghai moved to Singapore with his mother, relying on his mother’s work as a maid to support their living and schooling. In the 7th year of the Republic of China (1918), he returned to China and studied at the affiliated high school of Lingnan University. After graduation, he enrolled in the liberal arts department of Lingnan University. He was diligent in his studies and had a passion for literature, calligraphy… More details about Xian Xinghai ++