Zhuang ritual instrument gets a pop makeover

NANNING — In a scenic spot among the verdant karst hills of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, a band consisting of five men and a woman, all dressed in ethnic costumes, are putting on a pop concert.

These amateur musicians belong to the Zhuang ethnic group and are playing not only modern-day guitars, a keyboard and a drum kit, but also a couple of two-stringed tianqin, zithers made from gourds and played like guitars.

The tianqin, or "heavenly zither", was originally played by the Zhuang as a ritual instrument to accompany chants for good fortune. It is currently experiencing a revival, with musicians making efforts to woo young listeners. The band called Dingding is the latest example.