A hub for erhu

In Wuxi, the boom of erhu music arts is closely related with Meicun, according to Wan Jiang, deputy chief of the Wuxi new area's publicity department.

In Meicun, which is also known as Meili, there are a number of time-honored companies where skilled craftsmen still use ancient techniques to make the authentic Chinese erhu.

One such company is Guyue Qinhang, owned by master erhu maker Wan Qixing.

Wan, who has been in the industry for more than 60 years, is a legend of the town.

He began to learn erhu-making in 1953 when he was 15 years old. He began to run an erhu factory in 1965.

Wan is a believer of the idea that "one is never too old to learn". He became a student of master erhu maker Lyu Weikang in 1999 to improve his skills, which led to the creation of the famous local erhu brand Wan's.

"Selecting the right materials is crucial in making a premium erhu," Wan said.

He uses hardwood varieties such as mahogany and Indian sandalwood to make the long neck of the erhu, while the cover of the body is usually made of python skin.

"We select the tail part of the python skin as the cover for making the best erhu," Wan said, adding that the tail section only accounts for a very smart part of the entire python skin that is usually four to five meters long.

He said a top-quality Wan's erhu sells at prices up to 180,000 yuan ($25,290).

But despite the high costs, premium erhu instruments are always highly sought after by professional erhu artists.

Over the past six decades, Wan has made great efforts to pass down his skills and techniques to younger generations. Today, a number of local erhu makers are students of Wan.

Wan's erhus are currently sold in China, as well as in overseas markets including Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Europe and the United States.

Innovation

While top makers like Wan's are using traditional techniques to make upscale products, companies targeting the medium and lower-end markets are using cost-effective, environmentally friendly materials and techniques in the production.

For instance, local company Wansheng Musical Instrument uses artificial leather to take the place of python skin for erhu body.

Huang Jianhong, general manager of the company, admitted that erhu made of the new material lacks a sense of "depth and broadness" compared with traditional products.

"However, it is enough and suitable for amateurs and beginners," Huang said.

Zhang Xiaoming, party secretary of Meicun township, said the innovative alternatives by makers like Wansheng are in line with the sustainable, environmentally friendly requirements of the industry.

He called for more efforts in searching for higher-quality materials that can be used to produce erhu for the upper-end markets.