16 | Wednesday, June 17, 2020 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY YOUTH

ometimes you have to travel didn’t enjoy traditional Chinese to appreciate your own. music that much until he pursued his Sometimes, waking up in a music studies in the United States. foreign land gives you a pre­ When leaving China, he took with Scious insight into your own country. him the hulusi, a kind of Chinese Fang Songping is a musician and wind instrument made from a has traveled but when he was at gourd, and played it recreationally home with his pipa­player father, in the college. The exotic sound of Fang Jinlong, he preferred Western the instrument won him lots of fans rock. and requests to perform on stage. It was hulusi, the gourd­like Then he started researching about instrument, that really changed his traditional Chinese music and com­ life. He happened to bring it to Los bining elements of it into his own Angeles, while studying music there. compositions. In 2015, he returned His classmates were fascinated to China and started his career as an when he played music with it, and a indie musician. new horizon opened up before him. Now, Fang Songping works as the According to a recent report on music director of a popular reality traditional Chinese music, young show, Gems of Chinese Poetry, Chinese people are turning their which centers on traditional Chi­ attention to traditional arts. More nese arts, such as poetry, music, and more are listening to traditional dance and paintings. He composed Chinese music. eight original instrumental pieces, The report was released on June inspired by traditional Chinese cul­ 2, under the guidance of the China ture, like music, chess, calligraphy Association of Performing Arts, by and paintings. Kugou, a leading social media plat­ The Fangs say they will collabo­ form of digital music. The platform rate on music pieces composed and has been highlighting traditional played for video games. music along with other forms of The younger Fang, who plans to Chinese intangible cultural heri­ release an EP of his own composi­ tage, and garners more than 400 tions this year, says: “I am drawn to million active users monthly. both Chinese and Western music The report focused on the genres since I am influenced by both of of traditional Chinese art, such as Performers from the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe greet their online fans after a livestreamed show on March 16, to mark the 19th them.” operas and folk music, and also ana­ anniversary of Kunqu Opera being listed as a UNESCO “oral and intangible heritage of humanity”. Over 600,000 people watched the show. lyzed age differences and locations. Group influencers It found that more than 100 million According to the report, there are people tune in to traditional Chi­ also lots of young pop stars combin­ nese music monthly. ing traditional Chinese music ele­ The top three most popular types ments into their creations, which of traditional Chinese operas are are offering their young fans oppor­ named in the report — Yueju (or tunities to enjoy traditional music Cantonese Opera), Peking Opera (or as well as inspiring them to discover Jingju) and Huangmeixi. Tuning in to the past more about Chinese arts. It also pointed out that the popu­ Chinese pop idol Zhang Yixing larity of traditional music is a result of released his latest album, Lit, on May the rise in social media and network­ 29, which sold over 1.5 million copies ing, and through joint efforts made Traditional music has found increasing appeal among a younger audience, within eight minutes through major by traditional musicians and opera due to greater access to it and the passion of its fans, Chen Nan reports. domestic music streaming platforms. performers. For example, Peking The 29­year­old singer­songwriter Opera artists from Shanghai Jingju has demonstrated his ability to sing Theatre Company once recorded for and inspired me to change my and rap, and also to express his lyrics a Chinese video game that centers on music.” in different languages, such as Chi­ exploring Chinese food. The musician, now in his late 50s, nese and English. He combined tradi­ was first introduced to music by his Traditional Chinese tional Chinese and Western styles of Rising of stars father, also a pipa player in a local musicians are music. The instruments used for the Pipa player Fang Jinlong, father Huangmeixi opera troupe, and start­ songs are also a fusion of old and new. of Fang Songping, is a musician who ed to play liuqin (a four­stringed constantly trying to The classic Peking Opera piece, Fare­ has been devoted to preserving and Chinese mandolin) at 6 years old. come up with new well My Concubine, featuring the promoting traditional music among Before graduating from primary love story of Xiang Yu, a warlord in young people for years. He has school, he could play more than 10 ways to promote the the late Qin Dynasty (221­206 BC) attracted lots of young fans on his traditional Chinese instruments. genre. My idea is to and his concubine Yu Ji, was featured social media platforms. “I didn’t expect that the show on in his music video of the title song, His 12­minute performance at the Bilibili would receive so much atten­ fully display the which has been viewed over 7 million New Year’s Eve concert on Dec 31, tion. I am very proud of it. Traditional versatility...” times on YouTube. 2019, livestreamed by video­sharing Chinese musicians are constantly try­ The report also gave an example platform Bilibili, made him an ing to come up with new ways to pro­ Fang Jinlong, pipa player of Kunqu Opera, one of the oldest online star, receiving warm feed­ mote the genre. My idea is to fully traditional Chinese operas, which back from the young audience. He display the versatility of the music in a adding that they hope to introduce attracts over 100 million listeners adapted pop songs with traditional fun way,” says Fang Jinlong. traditional Chinese musical instru­ who were born after 1990. The lis­ Chinese folk tunes and played doz­ The process of experimenting with ments with a contemporary touch, by teners play Kunqu Opera melodies ens of musical instruments, includ­ his music and making his music pop­ conducting livestreams and playing for about 275,000 times. ing the pipa and erhu. His show ular among young audiences is “like pop songs from the East and the West. On May 16, the Shanghai Kunqu even incorporated elements from that of an experienced chef sensing Opera Troupe, together with Zheji­ Chinese martial arts culture, Ameri­ how different ingredients will One’s two worlds ang Kunqu Opera Troupe and the can folk music and Japanese anime. change the flavor of a dish”, he says. Fang Songping, born and raised in Suzhou Kunqu Opera Troupe, During the livestreamed show, he “I taught myself to play all those Guangzhou, Guangdong province, co­launched an online show as part was accompanied by a 100­member instruments to better understand learned to play piano and the pipa at of a series of events to mark the 19th symphony orchestra under the traditional Chinese music,” adds the 4 and also developed an interest in anniversary of the art being listed as baton of conductor Zhao Zhao, and musician, who also co­founded a Western music as a child. He was a UNESCO “oral and intangible her­ he’s seen sometimes talking with female band, Sweet 18, in 2003. The exposed to a diverse array of West­ itage of humanity” in 2001. More other musicians, communicating band is known for their creative ern genres, like R&B and rock, at the than 600,000 viewers watched the with the audience and imparting interpretation of traditional Chi­ Musicians Institute in Hollywood, livestreamed performance, mostly knowledge about the instruments nese musical instruments and their California, where he began studying their long­term followers who or the music, while the audience adaptation of famous Chinese pop in 2012. haven’t had much chance to watch was able to interact with the musi­ and folk songs. Like many youngsters, he used to performances in theaters since the cians, as well as with each other, by Amid the COVID­19 pandemic, play “loud music” in his room at COVID­19 outbreak. leaving instant messages on the the Fangs released a song, Illumi­ home, which his father didn’t “We have achieved popularity screen. nate, for which the younger Fang understand and had no idea what among a young audience, especially Fang Jinlong, from Anqing, Anhui composed the instrumental piece, he was listening to. those aged between 25 and 35,” says province, says: “I have been a musi­ while his father played nine instru­ He inherited his father’s musical Gu Haohao, 47, president of the cian for 42 years and released nearly ments, such as the pipa, guqin, and Chinese traditional musician Fang Jinlong (left) plays pipa gene and can play various kinds of Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe. 40 albums, but previously my music shakuhachi (a Japanese flute). with his son, indie musician Fang Songping, on guitar, in instruments, like the guqin and wasn’t all that popular among “Music can bridge cultures and popular reality show Gems of Chinese Poetry. zhongruan (a traditional four­ Contact the writer at younger listeners. It made me think connect generations,” the father says, PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY stringed plucked instrument), but he [email protected] TV show knows what’s in your fridge is food for thought

By XING WEN guests, meanwhile probing into the on the show, sharing their personal [email protected] diversity of young people’s lifestyles thoughts about eating, cooking and and their attitudes toward life. other aspects of their daily lives. If, as the age­old adage says, “we The show, hosted by renowned Wang Xinxuan, the show’s pro­ We hope the show are what we eat”, then the fridge is a anchorman He Jiong and Hong ducer, points out that they just want will also encourage reflection of our personality. Kong pop idol Jackson Wang, com­ to present the guests’ lifestyles as What can we deduce, say, from a bines elements of both a talk show realistically as possible without judg­ young people to fridge packed with eggs, chicken and gourmet program. While exam­ ing any of them. For instance, cross­ embrace the pleasure breasts and protein bars? It is more ining what’s inside the fridge, the talk performer Guo Qilin, 24, who than likely that the person who puts hosts ask the guests about their eat­ lives alone in a rented apartment, of life that can be those items in the fridge is a fitness ing habits, cooking styles and useful seldom buys ingredients for his found in cooking a fanatic or at least wants to be fitter. tips to improve quality of life, along­ fridge, as he pretty much relies on Shelves lined by toners, moisturiz­ side other topics unveiling how, food delivery services. Thus, a large meal...” ing masks, eye creams and jade roll­ when out of the spotlight, they live number of young people who lead a Wang Xinxuan, producer ers, on the other hand, reflect the their day­to­day life. solitary life would feel connected owner’s preoccupation with skin Chefs are also invited to create with Guo, says Wang. opportunities to cook a hearty meal. care and an obsessive pursuit of recipes and cook 15­minute meals, Another fridge, belonging to Tai­ However, during the period when beauty. A nearly empty fridge might using only ingredients from the wan cellist and actress Ouyang Nana, people were confined indoors to indicate that the owner has been on guests’ fridges. Anchorman He Jiong (left) and actor Wei Daxun appear on TV show 20, is filled with fresh vegetables, curb the spread of COVID­19, many a long trip and has not yet had time Six seasons of the show have been Go! Fridge, a gourmet program with a talk show feature that remains eggs and other nutritious, low­fat had enough time to improve their to replenish their food stockpile. broadcast since its initiation in 2015 popular among young viewers. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY food. Her determination to keep fit cooking skills and were willing to It was really only a matter of time and the latest season has notched up has encouraged many contemporar­ share what they had concocted on before a TV show would use the more than 500 million views on Ten­ ies to be self­disciplined dieters, too. social media platforms. appliance to get into the mind and cent’s video platform. A large section students and fresh graduates who shared by our guests,” Qiu says. The show also examines the idea “We hope the show will also character of a celebrity. of the show’s loyal audience are those have left their parents to live an Celebrities, such as actors Zhang that cooking is a way to express our encourage young people to embrace Go! Fridge uses the refrigerator as aged between 18 and 24, according to independent life. We hope they Ruoyun, Jing Boran, writer Guo love for life. the pleasure of life that can be found a good conversation starter to open Qiu Yue, the show’s supervisor. enjoy the show and can relate to the Jingming and Taiwan actress Joe Wang says that in such a fast­ in cooking a meal for themselves or heart­to­heart talks with celebrity “Most of the audience are college various lifestyles and attitudes Chen, have been invited to appear paced society, people like her get few their families,” she adds.