For 17-year-old Yang Yalin, the haunting melodies of the guzheng – a 2,500-year-old Chinese zither – are more than music. "It's a conversation with history," she says, reflecting on her recent performance at the 15th Chinese Golden Bell Award for Music, China's most prestigious music competition.
Though Yang didn't advance beyond the preliminary rounds, her participation in the Chengdu-hosted event (October 18-29) represents a cultural milestone. "Hearing hundreds of guzheng players together reminded me this tradition isn't fading – it's evolving," the high school student told KhabarAsia.
The Golden Bell Awards, established in 2001, have become a barometer for China's music development. This year's guzheng category saw record participation, signaling renewed interest in traditional instruments among youth. Ethnomusicologists note the trend aligns with China's cultural revitalization efforts.
For diaspora communities, such events offer connective threads to heritage. "When I play High Mountain and Flowing Water," Yang says, referencing the classic guzheng piece, "I imagine ancestors listening by the Yangtze River."
As China's cultural influence grows, observers predict traditional arts will play an increasing role in soft diplomacy. For now, young artists like Yang continue their duet with history – one plucked string at a time.
