Instruments of change

Feng Mantian and his band plan a tour to promote his brand of Chinese music, Chen Nan reports.

In the underground parking lot of a shopping mall near Beijing's central business district is a room with a door tag that reads "Fengjia Hutong". Inside, candles are lit, incense sticks burn and musical instruments of various shapes and sizes, such as the percussion instrument bo and Japanese wind chimes lay on the table.

It is the music studio of Feng Mantian, who is going to display his collection of musical instruments and showcase his musical pieces along with his band members - flute player Ding Xiaokui and percussionist Zhao Bing. Feng himself sings and plays the ruan, an old Chinese plucked-string instrument.