Chinese and expatriate residents learn guqin together

The Party Committee of Yanshan Community in Zhaoshang Subdistrict, Nanshan District has launched an intangible cultural heritage project dedicated to the guqin, a traditional Chinese musical instrument.

Running from May to July, the project invites professional teachers to instruct both Chinese and expat residents of the community in playing the guqin. The presence of these experts has attracted many residents to participate in this cultural endeavor.

Chinese and expat residents of Yanshan Community learn guqin together. Courtesy of The Party Committee of Yanshan Community

The guqin, a seven-stringed zither, is esteemed as the first among the “Four Arts of the Chinese Scholar” (Qin, Go, Calligraphy, and Painting). With a history spanning over 3,000 years, it is one of China’s oldest musical instruments. Historically, the guqin has been cherished by scholars and literati who regarded its practice as essential for self-cultivation and intellectual refinement.

Guqin enthusiasts in the district, both Chinese and non-Chinese, will attend 18 teaching sessions covering the basic structure of the guqin, sound generation principles, playing posture, basic music theory, and performance techniques.

To assist expat residents in learning to play the guqin, the Party Committee of the College of International Studies at Shenzhen University is providing student Party member volunteers to serve as on-site interpreters.

“I enjoy the guqin classes very much. The teachers and volunteers always explain the lessons to me clearly and patiently. I’m so happy that I was able to successfully play my first piece of guqin music,” said Anastasiia, a woman from Russia.

“The guqin project has provided a platform for both Chinese and non-Chinese guqin enthusiasts to learn and interact with each other. This not only enhances residents’ cultural and artistic cultivation, but also improves their sense of happiness and fulfillment. It also enables the community to engage in internationalization activities through practical actions,” an official in Yanshan Community said.