An impressive group of konghou performers takes to the stage in Huzhou. [Photo/nthh.media.hugd.com]

The "Huzhou-ASEAN Friendship Spring" Konghou Special Concert was held on May 12 at Huzhou University's concert hall in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province — featuring rousing performances of konghou, or the Chinese harp, a traditional Chinese plucked string instrument.

The event brought together various enthusiastic parties, including guests from the Third China-ASEAN Conference on Sustainable Development Cooperation, which was held on May 11 in Huzhou.

As a key part of the conference, the concert featured Professor Cui Junzhi, the founder of modern konghou performance art in China, the all-female Jiufeng Konghou Ensemble, and students and faculty members from Huzhou University.

At the concert, a series of captivating pieces were played, where the konghou's vibrant tones mingled with various instruments, offering the audience a delightful experience that was met with warm applause.

The highlight of the evening was the finale, featuring a work called the ASEAN Folk Song Rhapsody, which artfully blended melodies from Indonesian and Thai folk songs. The konghou, alongside a traditional orchestra, wove a touching tapestry of shared cultural ties between China and ASEAN.

Yu Lili, first secretary of the Thai embassy in China, expressed her enchantment with the konghou performance, noting its beauty and potential to further cultural ties between ASEAN and China.