Silk Way Star: Season 2 of Kazakh international project starts in China's Yiwu
Filming of Season 2 of the international vocal show Silk Way Star, a large-scale television initiative uniting artists and viewers from across the Great Silk Road, has officially begun in the Chinese city of Yiwu, Qazinform News Agency reports.
Speaking at the opening ceremony in Yiwu, Yerkezhan Kuntugan, Managing Director of Jibek Joly/Silk Way TV Channel, highlighted that the agreement to implement the project was signed by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Chinese President Xi Jinping in June 2025.
“President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described our project as a model of modern cultural diplomacy. Through creativity and talent, we strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples. This is the core mission of Silk Way Star,” Yerkezhan Kuntugan emphasized.
Jointly organized by the Television and Radio Complex of the President of Kazakhstan and China Media Group (CMG), the second season of the project opens a new chapter in cultural, people-to-people, and media cooperation between the two nations.
Top vocalists from 12 countries are taking the stage in Yiwu: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Türkiye, Serbia, South Africa, New Zealand, Brazil, and Georgia. Kazakhstan is represented by singer Rukhiya Baidukenova.
Season 2 features an updated format: all contestants will remain in the show across all 10 episodes, with the winner determined by the highest cumulative score. This approach gives the audience a closer look at each artist, showcasing their unique vocal style and the culture of the country they represent.
The contestants face an intensive lineup of activities, from preparing concert acts and rehearsing to performing in various musical genres and exchanging cultural traditions.
Filming the show’s second season in Yiwu, China, opens the next chapter in the development of cultural and media cooperation among Great Silk Road countries.
First held in Astana in 2025, Silk Way Star was created to foster cultural exchange, empower young artists, and showcase the musical diversity of Asian nations.
Silk Way Star has already established itself as a notable international vocal format. Its second season will continue to unite young performers, production teams, and a multi-million audience around the universal language of music.
As previously reported, Kazakh singer Rukhiya Baidukenova and Chinese singer Zhang Hexuan, a participant in the international music project Silk Way Star, presented the Silk Way Star anthem at the 5th Global Media Innovation Forum in Chongqing.
In 2025, the Silk Way Star grand finale was held for the first time in Astana and broadcast live in six languages. All ten episodes of the competition were shown on Jibek Joly and Silk Way channels.
