We stay with the Silk Road. The city of Shenzhen in Guangdong province hosted its second "Belt and Road" -themed international music season from March 23rd to April 29th. More than 18 performances took place at local theatres and music halls. 

The opening ceremony was on March 23rd at the Shenzhen Concert Hall. Musicians from 16 countries and regions along the Silk Road -- and beyond -- performed distinctive genres, classical and popular, eastern and western, traditional and avant-garde.

AUDIENCE MEMBER "The concert presented world-class performances. As a citizen of Shenzhen, we feel honored to have the chance to listen to such a high-end concert here."

AUDIENCE MEMBER "I came here mainly for the Schindlers' List and the Song of Zingaro. I like the two violin concertos very much and I can play one of them."

Whatever their musical tastes, the viewers could always find something to be enchanted by.

Notable performances included celebrated performing artist Pu Cunxin's poetry recitation, French trumpeter, Lucienne Renaudin Vary's solos and the Xinjiang Uygur Traditional Orchestra.

Renowned Argentine bandoneon master, Walter Rios, played solos flavored with Latin American sounds. 

WALTER RIOS ARGENTINE BANDONEONIST "The Bandoneon is not only good at playing tango, which is very popular in Argentina. The solo 'Adios Nonino' was composed by my teacher Astor Piazzolla to bid farewell to his father. Because he was in the middle of a world tour, he missed the chance of being with his father for his last moments of life."

The music of "Pure Land" played on Dunhuang-inspired instruments was a highlight in the second half of the concert. The Mogao Grottos in Dunhuang in western China is a well-known cultural heritage site along the Silk Road. The murals depicting Apsaras -- a spirit in Buddhist and Hindu mythology -- playing the pipa stringed instrument behind their backs are a mark of the Dunhuang culture. The Tang Dynasty-styled pipa featured on the murals appeared during the concert.

MENG XIAO PIPA PLAYER "The modern pipa is plucked with nails, but to be more like how the Apsaras played the pipa in the Dunhuang murals, and we played it with a plectrum -- a type of pick. Fingers can add more colors to the sound, however, a plectrum brings back an ancient texture to the strings."

Joining the performance, the thin waist drum and the 4-stringed Lotus Ruan are also instruments made according to the mural paintings in Dunhuang.

To encourage more people to come enjoy the music, the entry fees for the shows are relatively lower than average.

YE XIAOGANG, CHAIRMAN CHINESE MUSICIANS' ASSOCIATION "The meaning of the music season is mainly to uplift cultural influence on people in the region and to broaden their artistic imagination. It is an answer to China's Belt and Road Initiative in the sector of culture and music."

Co-organized by the Chinese Musicians' Association and the Shenzhen municipal government, the music season wrapped up on April 29th with a grand closing ceremony directed by Shen Wei, a well-known Chinese-American choreographer, painter and director.

SW CGTN.