Music industry helps boost rural China's development

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China is striving to develop the distinct characteristics of individual villages and towns as a way to boost the rural economy. In Zhouwo of Hebei Province, the music industry has brought dramatic changes to people’s lives.

Guo Yuguan is a farmer, but she is also a saxophonist with a local band. She performs for tourists in her spare time, and even earns extra income by selling saxophones.

“I love to see more tourists,” she said. “They think our village is clean and beautiful. Many envy our lives here.”

In Zhouwo town of Hengshui City, the first obvious changes began to take place five years ago. Houses were turned into stores and hotels for tourists. The town is now known as a music town, which aims to attract tourists as well as industry craftsmen.

Peng Kefei /CGTN Photo

Peng Kefei is one such craftsmen. His passion for building guitars by hand has made him famous here.

Peng used to make musical instruments in a company, but he got the chance to start his own business. ”This platform has given me a good start,” Peng said.

The more tourism develops in Zhouwo, the more business Peng's shop gets. He loves to see appreciation for his work growing among professional musicians.

In addition to tourism, this beautiful town is the largest producer of musical instruments in China, with a flourishing industry worth over one billion yuan.

A worker at Jin Yin /CGTN Photo

At the heart of Zhouwo’s music industry is the Jin Yin Musical Instruments Corporation. In 30 years, Chen Xuekong has led Jin Yin from a workshop to the second largest orchestral instruments manufacturer in the world. Every year, over a million different kinds of instruments are shipped from here to more than 30 countries.

“Our products are just cultural products. We combine it with education, tourism, research and life style, so it is called cultural industry. We provide support for the development of a musical town in Zhouwo, but in return, its success has won us more influence,” Chen told CGTN.

Most residents in Zhouwo either work for Jin Yin Musical Instruments, or in music-related businesses. Music here is a hobby, a way of living, and a hope for a better future.