Zhenhai becomes 'Home of Pipa'

Pipa players perform at the 2023 Chinese Prime Golden Bell Music – National Pipa Performance, which kicks off in Zhenhai, Ningbo on July 24. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

Zhenhai district in Ningbo, Zhejiang province has been working to become a cultivation base for pipa (a four-stringed lute) players for many years.

Zhenhai is the hometown of many famous Chinese pipa players, such as Wang Fandi and Wang Huiran. In 2021, the China Musicians Association awarded Zhenhai the title "China's Home of Pipa." Since then, it has been vigorously promoting the pipa across the district.

Seventeen pipa cultivation bases have been built in Zhenhai to teach adults, teenagers, and children, making it more accessible to residents. Several national pipa competitions and performances, such as the Chinese Music Small Golden Bell, have also been held in Zhenhai.

The 2023 Chinese Prime Golden Bell Music – National Pipa Performance kicked off in Zhenhai on July 24 and is slated to run until July 29. Over 200 pipa players are expected to attend the event and present 18 pipa shows 

"We intend to increase the popularity of the pipa expose more people in the district to the instrument," said a district official.