Wuxi becomes China's first UNESCO City of Music

International accordion players perform in front of the statue of Ah Bing in Wuxi in July, 2024. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]

With a rich musical heritage and innovative development practices, Wuxi in East China's Jiangsu province, was officially selected as part of the Creative Cities Network by UNESCO on Oct 31, becoming China's first City of Music.

The Creative Cities Network was launched by UNESCO in 2004 and is selected every two years, covering eight major fields, including literature, design, music, film, gastronomy, and architecture (added in 2025).

To date, a total of 20 Chinese cities have joined the network, more than any other country. Wuxi's inclusion ensures that China has representative cities across all major fields and shows that Wuxi's unique urban musical character has gained worldwide recognition.

The musicians of Wuxi Symphony Orchestra perform on the Qingming Bridge, a landmark of Wuxi. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]

Over millennia of cultural development, Wuxi has nurtured numerous musical geniuses, including Hua Qiuping, Gu Yuxiu, Liu Tianhua, and Hua Yanjun (Ah Bing). Er Quan Ying Yue (The Moon Reflected on the Second Spring), an erhu masterpiece created by Ah Bing, has elevated Chinese folk music to world-class status.

The city's long musical history has fostered a thriving music industry. Its Meicun subdistrict is the world's largest production base for erhu, producing nearly 50,000 erhu of various types annually. Among the world's 18 harmonica full-industry-chain brands, Wuxi accounts for six, with harmonica production accounting for nearly 60 percent of the global market. 

Members of the Wuxi Chinese Orchestra. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]