The epic Manas?appeared in the 9th to 10th centuries. It tells the story of the extraordinary life of Manas, the hero, and his seven generations of descendants who led the Kirgiz people to fight against invaders and other evil forces.

It illustrates the spirit of indomitability and unity and embodies the Kirgiz people's yearning for a better life, which is regarded as the soul of the Kirgiz.

Said to be 19 times longer than Homer's Odyssey, the epic spans eight chapters in 18 volumes and boasts more than 234,000 lines, making it the second-longest epic in the world.

The government of Kezilesu Kirgiz autonomous prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, has held the Manas International Cultural Tourism Festival for the past eight years and sponsored regular concerts, competitions, forums. It has also been popularizing Manas through modern art forms such as exhibitions, paintings, song and dance dramas.

Please watch the video provided by the Kezilesu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture Broadcasting and Television Station to appreciate the grandeur of the epic.