A media crew from China Central Television (CCTV) visited the Meicun in Wuxi New District on Aug 5-7 to shoot a TV program about the local erhu culture.

With the aim of demonstrating the historical development and artistic value of erhu, a two-stringed bowed musical instrument, the crew visited the Erhu Culture Park and the the former residences of Zhou Shaomei (1885-1938) and Liu Tianhua (1895-1932), two notable erhu performers who were active in the early 20th century. Liu composed 47 exercises and 10 solo pieces (1918-1932), which were vital to the development of the erhu as a solo instrument.

They also interviewed local erhu craftsmen, performers and young learners to explore the craftsmanship inheritance and industrial development of this traditional Chinese music instrument.

The erhu is a two-stringed bowed musical instrument, which can be used as both a solo instrument and in small ensembles and large orchestras. It is the most popular of the huqin family of traditional bowed string instruments used by various ethnic groups in China.

Meicun is often recognized as the "hometown of the erhu" in China. It is also one of the birthplaces of Wu Culture. Meicun has a number of factories, some of which was set up as early as 1965, to produce the instrument.

The erhu has gradually become an important part of Wu Culture and a distinctive symbol for Meicun. With the prospect of the program to be aired on CCTV in near future, it is set to gain more prominence and help promote the erhu culture and Wuxi's image.

Apart from the Meicun erhu documentary, CCTV has also run, since late July, a series of news reports about Wuxi specialties including Yangshan peaches, Huangtutang watermelons and Ganlu black carp.

Edited by Mevlut Katik