Zhouzhuang, a famous water town in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, hosted a Guqin concert featuring ancient Chinese instruments on Nov 14 for the preservation and heritage of traditional culture.

During the concert, Jin Hai'ou, a famous instrument maker, played an ancient Chinese composition using a set of chimes, a lute and a harp, which amazed the audience.

Jin Hai'ou, a famous instrument maker, plays an ancient Chinese composition using a set of chimes, a lute and a harp during the concert. [Photo/zhouzhuang.net]

The Guqin (literally "ancient stringed instrument") is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family. It has been played since ancient times, and has traditionally been favored by scholars and literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement. It is sometimes referred to by the Chinese as "the instrument of the sages".

The Guqin concert is one of the activities in the series "Culture Collection of Zhouzhuang", launched by Zhouzhuang Tourism Co. to preserve the local traditional culture as well as add interactive experiences for tourists.