Twin towers, Chengdu.

SPOTLIGHT:

SICHUAN ETHNIC RADIO

One of the more obscure Chinese broadcasters on shortwave is Sichuan Ethnic Radio, a division of Sichuan Radio and Television (SRT).

Tracing SRT's history is a venture for only the brave-hearted. In classic Communist-style, Sichuan province’s broadcasting policies and developments present many convoluted twists and turns. SRT was established by merging the former Sichuan People's Radio Station, Sichuan Television Station, Sichuan Radio and Television Group, and other entities. Today, SRT is a large organisation that includes AM and FM stations as well as about nine TV channels. Additionally, there are two shortwave frequencies for the Ethnic Radio service—6060 and 7225 kHz.

The station operates from the heart of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province in southwestern China. It is one of the major cities in the country and serves as a political, economic, and cultural centre for the region. Chengdu is situated in the Sichuan Basin and is renowned for its historical significance, spicy cuisine, and the home of the famous Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Additionally, the city is an important transport hub, boasting a major international airport and high-speed rail connections to other areas of China.

Sichuan Ethnic Radio was established to serve the province’s diverse ethnic communities. While the Han Chinese constitute the majority, Sichuan is also home to a significant number of ethnic minorities, particularly in its southern and mountainous western areas. Many ethnic groups preserve their distinct languages, traditions, and customs, which play a vital role in shaping the cultural and linguistic landscape of the region.

Some of the main ethnic groups include:

The Yi (Nuosu) People are one of the largest ethnic groups in Sichuan, predominantly living in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
The Tibetan People primarily inhabit the Garzê (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and the Ngawa (Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, both located in western Sichuan.
The Qiang People are among China’s oldest ethnic groups. They mainly live in the Ngawa (Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefectures.
The Hui People are a Muslim ethnic group found across Sichuan, especially in Chengdu, Leshan, and Guangyuan. They speak Mandarin and adhere to Islamic traditions, which include maintaining mosques, offering Halal cuisine, and participating in cultural practices.

Cultural dress of a Yi (Nuosu) woman.

The establishment of Sichuan Ethnic Radio aligns with China’s broader efforts to promote ethnic broadcasting. This initiative represents a significant shift, as the Chinese Communist Party had previously mandated that everyone speak only Mandarin. The station’s primary languages include Khams Tibetan and Amdo Tibetan (the two main dialects of the Tibetan language), Nuosu (Yi), and Mandarin.

Operating under SRT, Sichuan Ethnic Radio provides a wide range of programming, including news, music, and cultural content designed for its diverse audience.

How to hear Sichuan Ethnic Radio:

The current operating schedule is 6060 and 7225 kHz from 1000 to 1515 UTC and from 2155 to 0130 UTC. Languages used at varying times of the schedule include Kham Tibetan, Amdo Tibetan, Yi (Nuosu) and Mandarin.

Here is a recent note from my logbook:

7225 CHINA. Sichuan Ethnic R. Chengdu. 1000 - Six time pips and ID. Then a lengthy conversation in the Yi language between a man and a woman. 1013 - Soft Chinese traditional instrumental music followed, followed by further discussion. Initially, the signal was weak but improved significantly by 1025 UTC. The transmitter output is listed as 50 kW. The service runs //on 6060. Mar 10.

A note on language:

The Yi language (also known as Nuosu) has notable differences from Mandarin, such as intricate consonant clusters, glottal stops, and the absence of Mandarin’s retroflex consonants like “zh”, “ch”, and “sh”. Yi belongs to the Lolo-Burmese branch of the Tibeto-Burman language family, which makes it genetically distinct from Mandarin Chinese, a member of the Sinitic branch.

73, wishing you good DX of Sichuan Ethnic Radio!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Radio stations featured in the Spotlight series

Note: This series covers more than ten years, so the frequencies and times mentioned in some of the articles may be out-of-date. Refer to the latest schedule information for current operating times.

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