Matouqin takes the lead in an orchestra with a difference

Few people knew about Uxin, the small banner in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, before the matouqin symphony orchestra was created in May 2013. It was the country's first symphony orchestra featuring an instrument from an ethnic group.

Among Uxin's 130,000 residents, more than 10,000 play the matouqin, a traditional Mongolian bowed stringed instrument.

"(The number of players) proves the popularity of the instrument and how much we love it," says Chagan, the artistic director and co-founder of the symphony orchestra.