Residents of Baidian town sing a Dianshang work song. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Three kinds of work songs in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, have recently been listed as provincial intangible cultural heritage items.

The three work song varieties are Dianshang, Jiang'an, and Xindian, all of which originated from farm work.

Jiang'an work song performers pose for a group photo after a performance. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The Dianshang work songs in Baidian town, Hai'an, feature improvisational tunes and lyrics with upbeat melodies. The lyrics are related to the farm work the singers are doing so as to motivate them and raise efficiency.

Farmers of Xindian town sing a song while working. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The Jiang'an work songs in Jiang'an town, Rugao, were popular before 1949 when the People's Republic of China was founded. The lyrics are vivid and interesting while the tunes of some songs are sweet and graceful and those of others are exciting and encouraging.

Xindian work songs were mainly sung by residents in Xindian town, Rudong while seeding, herding cows, treading a waterwheel, or pulling up weeds. Fifteen Xindian work songs have been added to the Jiangsu volume of the Chinese Folk Song Collection.