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Meshrep: Inside the Uyghur Gathering of Music and Dance

Intangible Cultural Heritage
Oct 6, 2026
Elderly Uyghur singer with a white beard and frame drum performing at a Meshrep gathering in Yarkand, Xinjiang

Meshrep is hard to sum up in one word, and that is exactly the point. In Xinjiang, it is a Uyghur gathering where music, dance, storytelling, jokes, games and shared food all happen in one place, often over a whole evening. In 2010, UNESCO inscribed it on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding (UNESCO, 2010a). This guide explains what a meshrep actually is, how one runs from start to finish, and what a curious visitor can realistically expect to see.

What Is Meshrep?

Start with the word. According to China’s nomination file, it means “get-together” or “venue” in modern Uyghur (UNESCO, 2010b). So it names both the event and the space it creates. In Chinese, you will see it written as 麦西热甫 (maixirefu).

UNESCO calls it “the most important cultural carrier of Uygur traditions” (UNESCO, 2010a). A complete event can include:

  • music, above all songs from the muqam tradition;
  • folk dance, which nearly everyone joins;
  • drama, comic sketches and acrobatics;
  • oral literature, riddles and storytelling;
  • games and contests;
  • food, shared by the whole gathering.

That list sounds like a variety show. Still, the nomination file stresses something else. There is no line between stage and audience. Guests are listeners, players and, at times, judges too (UNESCO, 2010b).

Old roots, briefly

The file traces the custom back to ancient offerings, blessings and ceremonies. It also points to early written traces: a biography in the Book of Wei, dated there to 553 AD, and an Arabic-language Turkic dictionary from 1073 (UNESCO, 2010b). How closely those early gatherings match today’s is, honestly, hard to say. The file itself does not go into detail.

How a Meshrep Runs

A traditional gathering is not a free-for-all. It follows set procedures, usually in a roomy outdoor space, on seasonal holidays or when village life calls for one. Three groups take part (UNESCO, 2010b):

  1. The host. Called the yigetbixi in the file, the host is chosen by the local people for good character. He presides over the songs, dances, games and even mock court proceedings, with a few assistants keeping order.
  2. Invited folk artists. Singers, musicians and dancers carry the performance side.
  3. Everyone else. Attendance can run from dozens to hundreds of people, and they all join in.

Meshrep as stage, classroom and court

Here is the part that surprises most outsiders. The nomination file describes the gathering as a stage for folk artists, yes. But it is also a “moral forum”, a “court” where the host mediates quarrels, and a “classroom” for customs and farming know-how (UNESCO, 2010b). The host also runs mock court proceedings as part of the program. In other words, the fun has a job to do.

How muqam fits in

Music lovers may know the Uyghur Muqam of Xinjiang, on UNESCO’s Representative List since 2008 (UNESCO, 2008). The two are linked, but they are not the same thing. In the Twelve Muqam, the third part of each suite holds dance songs, and that part is itself called “Meshrep” (UNESCO, 2010b). Put simply, muqam is an art form, while the gathering is one of the spaces where that art lives.

Kinds of Meshrep: A Gathering for Every Purpose

The file counts about a dozen known varieties. Crucially, the word in front of “Meshrep” tells you what the gathering is for (UNESCO, 2010b):

  • Kok (“young crops”) — held in spring.
  • Huoxalik (“festivity”) — for weddings, coming-of-age rites, harvests and festivals.
  • Namakul (“apology”) — to settle disputes and make peace.
  • Keiyet (“disciplinary”) — to criticize bad behavior and teach by example.
  • Dolan — honoring the hunting life and courage of the ancestors.
  • Ketaphan (“storytelling”) — a kind of literary review night.

Within China, several local forms sit on the national heritage list under one entry, number X-49. The first, in 2006, was the Dolan form of Makit (Maigaiti) County in Kashgar Prefecture. Later additions cover Awat, Aksu, Hami and Mori (China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network, n.d.). The Makit listing describes scenes of hunting and harvest joy, with Dolan muqam singing, dancing, food and games.

Why UNESCO Called Meshrep Urgent

When the committee met in Nairobi in 2010, its concern was clear. The tradition’s “continuity is threatened because it is practised only in its simplified forms” (UNESCO, 2010c). The nomination file lists the pressures behind that (UNESCO, 2010b):

  • fast urbanization changing how people work and live;
  • young people moving to cities, far from village gatherings;
  • skilled hosts falling from hundreds to tens, many of them elderly;
  • city versions shrinking to plain singing and dancing, without the games, stories or moral role.

The file also records what had begun. A rescue team formed in 2006, and 31 different gatherings were filmed in 2007–2008. By 2010, about 120 recognized bearers received yearly stipends. A four-year plan for 2009–2012 then added a database, preservation zones and graduate training. How far each step went later is less clear from public sources, so treat those as plans, not results.

Meshrep vs a Ceilidh: A Useful Comparison

If you grew up anywhere with a village dance tradition, part of this will feel familiar. The Scottish or Irish ceilidh is probably the closest match many readers know. Both mix live music, group dancing, songs, stories and food. Both pull in grandparents and children alike. And in both, watching from the wall is frowned upon.

Yet the differences matter more:

  • A host with authority. A ceilidh caller runs the dances. A meshrep host also judges conduct and mediates conflicts.
  • A purpose in the name. Spring, apology, wedding, storytelling — each type does a different social job.
  • A serious art inside. Muqam is a large classical repertoire, not just folk tunes.

A closer cousin might be a village moot or a town hall meeting that happens to end in a dance party. That is a loose picture, of course. Still, it captures the blend of fun and social order.

Where You Might See a Meshrep

First, a reality check. A full community gathering is not a ticketed show. It happens when a village holds one, for a harvest, a festival or a wedding. As of 2026, we could not find any published public schedule for traditional gatherings. So most visitors will meet the tradition in one of three ways.

1. The southern oasis towns

The nomination file says the practice is most popular in rural areas around the Tarim Basin, south of the Tianshan range (UNESCO, 2010b). That puts the Kashgar area, Makit and Aksu at the center. Our guide to Kashgar old town is a sensible base, and the regional overview of Xinjiang travel covers distances and permits.

2. Staged performances

Some restaurants, cultural venues and scenic areas in Xinjiang stage meshrep-style song and dance. These tend to be shorter and more polished. They lack the moral court and the games, of course. Even so, they give a fair taste of the music and the Dolan dance energy.

3. An invitation

The most authentic route is also the least plannable. Weddings and family celebrations may include a small gathering. If a local guide, host family or classmate invites you, go. Students at Xinjiang University in Urumqi, for instance, may have more chances than short-stay tourists.

Meshrep etiquette for guests

  • Ask before photographing people, especially elders and women.
  • If someone pulls you into the dance, join. Clumsy is fine; refusing may seem cold.
  • Accept tea or food when offered, at least a little.
  • Dress modestly, and follow your host’s lead on seating.

For background on the Uyghur and Xinjiang’s other communities, our overview of ethnic groups in China helps.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does meshrep mean?

It means “get-together” or “venue” in modern Uyghur. It names a gathering with music, dance, stories, games and food.

Is meshrep the same as Uyghur Muqam?

No. Muqam is a large musical repertoire. The gathering is a social event where muqam songs are often performed, alongside much else.

Can tourists join a meshrep?

Sometimes. Community gatherings are not ticketed, so you need an invitation or a lucky timing. Staged versions are easier to find.

Is it found outside China?

Yes. The nomination file notes related practice in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

A Party With a Purpose

Meshrep works best when you stop thinking of it as a show. It is a community talking to itself, through songs, jokes, food and the odd mock trial. That is also why it is fragile; a performance can be staged anywhere, but a gathering needs a village that still wants to hold one. For a sister case from the far northeast, read how Hezhen Yimakan storytelling fared on the same urgent list. And for the full picture, see our guide to intangible cultural heritage in China.

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