Playing a different tune

Makers of musical instrument in Wuqiang embrace modern tech

Soft strains of music wafting up from the various shops and factories in Wuqiang hardly give an inkling that the county is one of the leading manufacturers of wind musical instruments in the world. The relatively unknown county in Hebei province is also a major exporter of musical instruments such as flutes and clarinets.

China is already among the top six manufacturers in the world that collectively account for 90 percent of the musical equipment market, according to statistics provided by Music Trades, a well-known trade magazine that tracks the music industry.