Fiddle capital strikes chord

Editor's Note: Using a blend of words and visuals, this series explores unique communities and reveals the heart of China through food, architecture, craftsmanship, landscapes and traditions.

The two-stringed erhu is an ancient upright fiddle that voices traditional Chinese sounds with rich emotions beyond time and space.

Meicun village in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, known as "China's erhu capital", established a folk music instrument factory and industry in 1965 with the aid of erhu masters.

The village has maintained the traditional method of hand-making middle- and high-end erhu, which involves more than 100 steps. The high-quality material and craft for its main components — including the handle, rest and resonator box — contribute to its popularity among erhu musicians for their stable and extraordinary sounds.

In September 2011, Meicun erhu craftsmanship was listed as the third provincial-level cultural heritage, and the following month, the village was honored as the "cradle of Chinese erhu" by the Chinese Musicians Association.

Under the guidance of skilled craftsmen, the quality of the musical instrument produced in Meicun has continued to improve alongside the maturing industry. The complete industry chain integrates aspects of erhu production, exhibition, sales, training and performance, with annual output value of nearly 50 million yuan ($6.85 million) and an export value of about 9 million yuan.

As a distinct intangible cultural heritage, Meicun erhu craftsmanship has been thriving with annual output steadily increasing. The erhu industrial park in Meicun has 20 production and supporting enterprises, boasting a vital industry base in China. Nearly 50,000 erhu of various types are produced in the park and then exported across the globe, accounting for a quarter of the middle- and high-end erhu market.

Guyueqinfang, the leading enterprise in Meicun, produces over 5,000 erhu every year for domestic and overseas markets such as Singapore and Japan.

Nowadays, the Meicun erhu is well-known as a collective brand, appearing at international instrument exhibitions in Beijing, Shanghai and other places. It also functions as a "cultural image ambassador" during exchange events, showcasing its unique charm to audiences in Germany, the United States, France, Cyprus, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and other countries.

Xu Yan and Guo Yanqi contributed to this story.