Xianzi is a two-stringed instrument of Tibetan origin that’s not commonly seen outside of Yunnan, southwest China. Players of the traditional fiddle don’t follow sheet music, because the instrument was passed on through word-of-mouth and folk teachers.
It may be obscure, but there are a handful of craftsmen fighting to keep it alive. We went to Diqing, a remote village five hours away from Shangri-La city in Yunnan, to meet one of the last expert xianzi craftsmen.
If you liked this video, we have more stories about craftsmanship in Asia, including:
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An Entire Life Perfecting Brush Making https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9Cd8gN8xBI
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Producer: Xin Fang Videographer: Zhang Canrong & Xin Fang Editor: Nicholas Ko Narrator: Nicholas Ko Mastering: