Liu Zesong (1946- )

Liu examines raw bamboo, which is the main material to make Yuping xiao and Yuping flutes. [Photo/gog.cn]

Liu Zesong, 74, is an inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage of Yuping xiao and Yuping flutes in Yuping Dong autonomous county, Southwest China's Guizhou province.

The creation of Yuping xiao and Yuping flutes has a long history. There are four main steps for processing the raw bamboo, followed by 24 additional steps to make a xiao and 28 steps to create a flute.

Liu started to learn how to make and play xiao and flutes from his father in 1958 when he was 12 years old. Roughly three years later, at the age of 15, he began working at Yuping's xiao and flute factory.

Liu went on to serve as the xiao and flute manufacturing team leader at the factory and was tutored by masters such as Zou Xusheng and Chang Dunming.

Liu has started to make Yuping xiao and Yuping flutes when he was 12 years old. [Photo/gog.cn]

In 1982, Liu left the factory and established his xiao and flute manufacturing workshop, where he passes on his technical knowledge to curious pupils.

In 2006, the manufacturing of Yuping xiao and Yuping flutes was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. In 2007, Liu saw an increase in online and offline sales, with an annual sales volume of over 1 million yuan ($144,687.81).

In 2015, four of Liu's 23 pupils established xiao and flute production plants of their own. Though the pupils have left Liu's workshop, Liu now visits their production plants and offers advice.

He hopes that as a national intangible cultural heritage, Yuping xiao and Yuping flutes will become well known and passed on to the next generation.