The many charms of an ancient instrument

"As a child, I had an affinity for traditional Chinese music, and learning Chinese instruments came more naturally to me. After all, the five notes of the traditional pentatonic scale flow in my blood," she says.

Xu's experience of learning the guzheng, which she first took up at the age of 9, gave her a solid foundation for learning the guqin. The other instruments she learned to play also contributed to her musical journey, by giving her a better understanding of harmony and the balance between tension and release, for example.

Xu entered the Wuhan Conservatory of Music in Hubei province in 2009, to specialize in traditional Chinese music. As the conservatory encourages students to expand their learning, she chose to add the guqin to her repertoire, an instrument she had long considered both venerable and elegant.

After graduation, she continued to improve her playing while giving guqin lessons at her teacher's studio, and occasionally performing at commercial events before opening up a studio of her own.

"I feel that the guqin is something I'm willing to work on for a lifetime. To be able to master the instrument, teach it properly, and carry on its tradition takes a lot of effort, and comes with great responsibility. There's so much to be done," Xu says.

In addition to teaching, she embarked on a new journey into the realm of social media. Some of her first videos later became trademarks, and her rearrangements of contemporary music, such as popular songs or TV series theme songs, have been published in two books.

"The reason I rearrange and adapt these songs is because I believe that the guqin has strong, expressive power," Xu says. "It's not limited to playing traditional pieces. In fact, some of today's music can also be played on the guqin, showcasing the instrument's unique charm in the process."

Many of Xu's videos are filmed in natural surroundings, which she says reflects her wish to take her guqin on a journey through the varied landscapes of China.