WUXI, Jiangsu Province: A musical instrument used by A Bing, a famous folk music artist, has been given to Wuxi, his hometown in East China's Jiangsu Province.

The pipa, a lute-like traditional Chinese instrument, will be displayed in his former home, which is being rebuilt on its old site.

"To return the pipa to Wuxi was my long-term wish," said Chen Zemin, a retired professor from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.

The 75-year-old handed the precious lute to representatives of Chongan District in Wuxi.

"It is the first of A Bing's instruments that we have collected, and is the most important memento in his former residence," said Gao Gang, who works at the information office of Chongan District. "We hope to collect more instruments and other things used by A Bing in the future."

At the age of 35, A Bing lost his eyesight and was afterwards called Blind A Bing.

When he became ill - he died in 1950 - he was not in the habit of playing anymore. At that time, Yang Yinliu and Cao Anhe, both professors at the Central Conservatory of Music, went to Wuxi to record music played by A Bing, including three well-known lute tunes.

They were "Huge Waves Wash the Sand," "Dragon Boat" and "Zhao Jun Went out of the Fort."

Cao took a pipa with him which was a family heirloom. He brought it to A Bing, who played the three songs with it.

They also borrowed an erhu, a two-stringed bowed Chinese traditional instrument, from an instrument shop.

After the recording had been made, Cao took the pipa back to Beijing with him.

In 1989, he gave the instrument to his student Chen, who took it everywhere with him, even when he visited Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan.

Cao died in December. "I think my teacher would be very happy to know I donated the pipa to A Bing's hometown," Chen said.

A Bing was a talented musician. whose original name was Hua Yanjun.

He could play many instruments, especially the erhu and pipa.

"Many people know that A Bing was good at playing the erhu, but don't know he was also a good pipa player. He could even put a pipa above his head and play it most Wuxi senior citizens still remember that," said Gao.

(China Daily 06/21/2005 page3)