In this town, highly strung is so much fun

Lu Jianjun, 51, a farmer, is another member of the club. Learning cello has transformed him from a mahjong lover into an avid music enthusiast who spends almost all his spare time playing the cello near his fishpond.

"I was always interested in music but had no opportunity to learn it before," he says. "Now we are so lucky that the local government has cello teachers teach us twice a week."

Lu's passion for cello has touched his wife, too. "I had thought this cello thing was just a flash in the pan," she says. "But he has continued playing near the fishpond for more than three years, and now it doesn't sound as rough as it used to be. Many villagers have become his audience and sometimes even send song requests to him."

Thirteen residents from all walks of life, including doctors, teachers, farmers and workers, have joined the adult cello club. The oldest member is 84 and the youngest 27, and their stage is not limited to the town.

"We performed on a China Central Television show, called Fantastic Chinese Festival, during one Spring Festival," says Zhou Hongju, a canteen worker and club member.

With three years' training from being an absolute novice, Zhou has built up a considerable repertoire, including two well-known songs, I Love You China and Nanniwan.

The young learners have also made remarkable headway in their cello skills.