The guqin is the oldest and probably the most well-know instrument in China. Today, we profile guqin artist Wu Na, who is passionate about modernizing the traditional instrument, and uses the internet to bring the zither to a wider audience.

The seven-stringed instrument, aged more than 4,000 years old, may not strike a chord with today's audiences. But in the eyes of Wu Na, the guqin, long been favored by ancient scholars, is more than just a simple instrument.

WU NA GUQIN ARTIST "It's a part of Chinese culture. For me, playing it by myself is a little lonely. But when I play the guqin with other artists, it feels like seeking a soul mate via music."

Its elegant body which produced beautiful sounds appealed to Wu Na when she was a child. When she first tried to combine the instrument with contemporary music, she focused on technique. She learned how to play the cello and bass to research if these different sounds could be created by the guqin. After years of trying and testing, Wu says she learned more than just technique.

WU NA GUQIN ARTIST "We can never play the guqin like the ancient Chinese poets or scholars because we are living in the modern world. So I wanted to go out of the box to seek a new world built upon my own understanding of the instrument. And I want to share that with more people."

She started teaching the guqin via the internet. Those interested could also join her classes offline. And the serenity this instrument brings is proving to be very popular among people living in big metropoles.

"It's been about a year and a half since I started learning the guqin. Before my life is full of materialism. It's always about money and desires. But since my husband died, I've struggled to find the meaning of life. Then I got initiated with the guqin, and it feels like a brand new chapter of my life."

Wu's guqin class has also attracted foreigners who want to know more about traditional Chinese culture. Wen Yue, an Italian sinologist says learning the instrument also helps her find inner peace.

WEN YUE SINOLOGIST "I started to learn about Chinese culture when I was in university in Rome, so I knew about the guqin a long time ago. The moment I first touched the strings, it really echoes with my heart. The way you sit and the way to pose between every note, it's all part of the mental training, like talking to your inner self."

WU NA GUQIN ARTIST "For westerners like Wen Yue, she knows that learning the guqin is not just about the technique but also the mind. It's about finding your inner peace through the music. And through that process, the tradition lives on. The guqin, like many other traditional Chinese cultural forms, has regained its popularity. I believe it is something deep inside Chinese people's hearts, which is just waiting to be awakened."

SL, CGTN.