Renowned Lyricist Hu Xiaoshi, Author of "Wusuli Boat Song," Passes Away at 86

The official public account of the Heilongjiang Song and Dance Theatre announced the passing of Mr. Hu Xiaoshi on June 20.

The obituary states that Mr. Hu Xiaoshi, the esteemed lyricist, national first-class playwright, former council member of the Chinese Musicians Association, former presidium member of the Chinese Music Literature Society, honorary chairman of the Heilongjiang Musicians Association, honorary president of the Heilongjiang Music Literature Society, recipient of the titles "Honorary Hezhen Fisherman" and "Honorary Hezhen Person," former member of the Heilongjiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, member of the China Democratic League, and former vice president of the Heilongjiang Song and Dance Theatre, passed away in Harbin on the morning of June 19, 2026, after an illness, at the age of 86.

Born in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province in 1940, Mr. Hu graduated from Yangzhou Teachers College in 1959. He dedicated his life to the black soil of Northeast China, diligently writing for over six decades. In 1993, he was honored as an expert receiving special government allowances from the State Council. He authored more than 1,500 song lyrics throughout his career.

His works, imbued with profound national sentiment and the spirit of the times, earned high recognition within the industry. Among his most notable compositions, "Wusuli Boat Song" was selected by UNESCO as a music teaching material for the Asia-Pacific region. "Hello Beijing" won first prize in the national inaugural youth folk and popular singer competition. "Lily of the Valley" received a silver award in a national children's song selection and was included in primary school textbooks. "Farewell to Childhood" won first prize in the national "Jianpai Cup" broadcast song competition. "I Pass by the Yellow River" received a national gold medal for broadcast songs. "Hope, Burning in the Heart" and "Embracing Winter" were selected as the theme songs for China's 7th and 10th National Winter Games, respectively.

Mr. Hu also wrote the script for the large-scale musical "Eagle," which won the grand prize at the 5th China Wenhua Awards, along with the Wenhua Award for Best Screenplay. He served as the literary planner for the song and dance piece "Ode to China," which received the Outstanding Production Award at the 13th China Wenhua Awards. Furthermore, he planned and wrote scripts for numerous television programs and over a hundred large-scale galas, including the opening ceremony performance "Sun, Ice and Snow, Asia" for the 3rd Asian Winter Games. He published a personal collection of works titled "Love, in the North." In 2006, he was awarded Heilongjiang Province's inaugural "Lifetime Achievement Award in Literature and Art."

Mr. Hu Xiaoshi's life was one of burning passion for art, pursuing excellence, and selfless dedication. His passing is a significant loss for the Heilongjiang Song and Dance Theatre and for the Chinese music literature community. The valuable artistic legacy and noble spirit he leaves behind will continue to inspire future generations.

A funeral service is scheduled for 8:00 AM on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the Lilac Hall of Xihua Yuan in Harbin.