Ethnic instrument playing preserved in S China

The skills of playing the instrument have been handed down through the generations. Su learned how to play from his uncle when he was five years old, and his granddaughters have become accomplished musicians under his tutelage.

One has played the duxianqin on Guangxi TV. She spends two hours practicing every day.

Su says he started to teach people how to play in 1993 for free. He now spends the 3,000-yuan monthly subsidy given to him by the autonomous region on purchasing or fixing instruments for his students.

They number more than 300, range in age from three to 80 and come from various places including Hong Kong and Macao.

"I always bear in mind the responsibility of passing down our Jing culture and I am delighted to see so many people, especially young people, learning to play the instrument," says Su.

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