AsiaNet 201193

WUXI, China, Oct. 31, 2025 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--

Wuxi was officially recognized by UNESCO and joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a "World City of Music." Previously, China had 18 member cities in fields such as literature, gastronomy, film, and design. Wuxi is the first Chinese city in the network designated as a "World City of Music", joining 76 others, including Vienna and Liverpool.

Long renowned as the "Hometown of Chinese Folk Music," Wuxi produced the world-famous musician A Bing (Hua Yanjun). His extraordinary mastery of the erhu and profound understanding of life's trials inspired the moving piece "Erquan Yingyue" ("Moon Reflected on Second Spring"). In 1978, Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa said, "To truly appreciate this music, one must listen kneeling." Among China's top ten erhu masterpieces, eight originate from Wuxi.

Today, Wuxi's musical identity extends beyond folk traditions. The Wuxi Symphony Orchestra, founded in 2023, has quickly attracted world-class musicians. It has toured Shanghai, Suzhou, and other Chinese cities, as well as performing internationally in France, Portugal, the UK, and Japan. The new Wuxi Symphony Concert Hall is set to make its grand debut on January 1, 2026.

Wuxi emphasizes music heritage and education. The Tianyun Society, a folk Kunqu opera salon, has continued for over 400 years, while the "Nightingale" Youth Arts Program has run for 44 years. The city's music industry hosts 370 enterprises and 2,079 training institutions, generating an annual added value of about one billion U.S. dollars. Wuxi also leads globally in instrument manufacturing, producing 50,000 erhu annually, along with harmonicas, accordions, and harps.

Wuxi has a long tradition of international musical exchange. Yang Yinliu pioneered the Sinicization of Christian music; the hymnal he edited, "Pu Tian Songzan," still resonates in Chinese churches. Gu Yuxiu translated Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" into Chinese and founded the National Symphony Orchestra and National Conservatory of Music, laying the foundation for modern Chinese music education and international outreach.

Known as the "Pearl of Taihu Lake" and less than half an hour by high-speed train from Shanghai, Wuxi is best known for its thriving industry and commerce, with a 2024 GDP of 1.63 trillion yuan and a per capita GDP consistently among China's top cities. Its new identity as a "World City of Music" adds a compelling cultural dimension to its growing appeal.

Source: Wuxi City of Music Promotion Center