Cartoon to showcase Xinjiang culture

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The producers consulted local artists and scholars to better respect local customs and accurately represent different ethnic groups, according to Deng. More than 30 cultural experts from different ethnic groups have given their suggestions on plotlines, characters, scenery, and costumes.

Deng said the company has invited a Uygur singer to write and sing the cartoon's theme song.

"Hopefully, the production will contribute to cross-cultural communication among different ethnic groups," Lu Jun said.

Lu said the company is also preparing to produce an opera and film on the same subject.

It is not the first time an artistic work has been inspired by the Fragrant Concubine. The love story of the Uygur concubine and the emperor has been adapted into several stage and television productions.

Song Tong, lecturer at the Institute of Qing History at Renmin University of China, said the story of the Fragrant Concubine depicted in artistic works has been based on different versions of folklore.

There is no historical record of anybody called "Fragrant Concubine" in the imperial palace during the Qing Dynasty, according to Song.

He said Emperor Qianlong only had one Uygur concubine, called "Concubine Rong," and it is widely believed that the story of Fragrant Concubine is based on her.