Meicun's erhu workshops resume operation

A worker at a Gu Yue erhu workshop assembles each erhu by hand. [Photo/wxrb.com]

All 18 workshops producing the traditional Chinese instrument erhu (a two-stringed bowed instrument) in Meicun town, Wuxi's Xinwu district had resumed operations as of March 10, according to the Meicun Erhu Industrial Association.

Meicun town is famous as the birthplace of the erhu, and the 18 workshops are able to produce approximately 40,000 instruments a year, accounting for nearly 25 percent of China's entire erhu market. Companies such as Gu Yue and Guang Guo, among others, have gained worldwide attention.

"A number of training classes and performances have been canceled in light of the coronavirus outbreak," said Huang Jianhong, director of the Meicun Erhu Industrial Association and chairman of Gu Yue erhu workshop, "Our orders to foreign countries such as Japan are delivered by express as normal."

A worker has her temperature taken before entering the Gu Yue erhu workshop in Meicun town, Wuxi's Xinwu district on March 9. [Photo/wxrb.com]

It took 20 more days for Gu Yue to resume operation behind schedule. "We have given top priority to the health and safety of our staff since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus," said Huang.

With the help of the local government and other enterprises, Gu Yue prepared masks, protective gloves, disinfectants and hygiene products for work resumption. In addition, all workers received information on epidemic prevention and control as well as health examinations before returning to work.

Huang also said they feel confident that the culture industry will recover quickly.