Music of the mountain men

Born and growing up in mountainous regions of western Yunnan, Qu learned many local ethnic songs. He did not realize the value of those tunes until much later, he says.

"I listened to Western rock music like many young people, and I tried to play with Western musical instruments when I decided to launch a career as a rock musician. However, I found the instruments' limitations made it difficult to forge my own style."

After forming Shanren he further realized that the band could not make a breakthrough with Western musical instruments and musical styles but discovered endless new possibilities with Chinese instruments, especially those belonging to ethnic groups.

In addition to gaining a big following in China, particularly among the young, it toured nationwide.

Shanren has also performed overseas, including in Britain, Canada, Indonesia, Spain and the United States. Qu says there is no barrier for international audiences to appreciate the band's music. In 2016 the band won the TV reality show Sing My Song, aired on China Central Television, which gave its music huge exposure. The group became one of the few rock bands presented on TV variety shows when it was featured on Hunan Satellite TV's Happy Camp.

"Compared with many other successful Chinese bands we are not that well-known," Qu says. "But we obviously have a following, and since our TV appearances we have been recognized by people on the street. For Shanren the ultimate goal is to create music that makes people happy."