Ancient, modern elements in harmony for new generation

Veteran virtuoso

One of the most popular folk musicians among young users of Bilibili is the gray-haired pipa player Fang Jinlong.

Aged in his early 60s, Fang became a viral star after he gave a 12-minute performance at the New Year's Eve concert on Dec 31,2019, which was livestreamed. The performance, Rhythm World, featured Fang performing with a 100-member orchestra. He played an array of traditional musical instruments from China, India, Italy, and Japan, and even performed a solo by tapping on his own face. To appeal to young fans, he incorporated elements from Chinese martial arts culture, American folk music and Japanese anime.

Since that performance, Fang has been sharing videos showcasing the versatility of ancient Chinese musical instruments by working with players of various styles, from classical musicians to rock stars.

"Never doubt the charm of traditional Chinese music. All you need to do is to watch and listen," said Fang, who has great confidence in the appeal of these old instruments.

"Though the instruments are very old, they can be fun and contemporary. What I need to do is to experiment and let the music reach the young people."

Other art forms based in tradition, such as classic Chinese dance and hanfu, are also rising in popularity with young people.

"This interest is partly driven by a desire to reconnect with traditional values and aesthetics in a rapidly modernizing and globalized world. For them, traditional Chinese music, with its deep historical roots, symbolizes a rich cultural legacy that offers a sense of identity and belonging," Fang said.

Another rising star in the guofeng movement is Little Green Onion, a group of musicians led by songwriter Zhou Mingcong.

With their hybrid of pop and traditional music, they have captivated audiences with songs like Bi Shang Guan, or Reflections on the Walls, which has been viewed over 100 million times since its release in 2019.Inspired by the Mogao Caves mural paintings in Dunhuang, Gansu province, Zhou's music evokes memories of China's distant past while remaining contemporary.

This year, the song was adapted and re-performed on social media platforms over 300,000 times, making it a hit again. Veteran vocalist Gong Linna also did a version of the song.