In a remarkable transformation, Queshan County, once a poverty-stricken area in central China, has emerged as a significant center for violin production. The industry has developed a full production chain, from timber treatment to painting and finishing, with over 2,600 local residents employed in the sector. Queshan now produces approximately 400,000 violins per year, with around 80% of them being exported to countries worldwide.
The journey of Queshan's violin industry began in the 1980s when villagers started traveling to Beijing to learn violin making. Some eventually established their own workshops and businesses in the capital. From around the mid-2010s, many Queshan-born violin makers returned home, drawn by local incentives to develop the industry. They brought with them valuable skills, customers, and connections built over decades, laying the foundation for the industry's growth.
Wang Jinwu, a 54-year-old violin maker, is one of those who returned to Queshan. He initially apprenticed at a violin factory in Beijing at 16 and later worked independently in the mid-1990s. Wang built a business, developed overseas customers, and eventually moved his factory back to Queshan in 2023. His company now produces around 2,000 to 3,000 instruments annually, with about 90% of sales going to the United States.
The production process in Queshan's violin industry is characterized by its labor-intensive and skill-based nature. A violin takes about a month and a half to complete, involving six broad stages and numerous smaller tasks. Varnishing alone may require over 20 rounds of application, drying, and sanding. Workers learn one stage at a time, often taking two or three months to become proficient, while mastery takes years.
The growth of local suppliers and supporting businesses has shaped the industry's operations in Queshan. Production is divided among workshops and households, with some workers specializing in a single stage and being paid by the piece. This model has helped turn violin making into a source of rural employment, offering flexibility to workers like Xiong Jinduo, who also farms and values the ability to work close to her family.
Despite its success, the industry faces challenges, including the difficulty of standardizing skills and attracting young workers. Wang Jinwu noted that he recruited over 10 young people after returning to Queshan in 2023, but only a few stayed. The industry's focus on improving quality and building recognition for Queshan's handmade instruments is expected to drive growth, with plans for an industrial park and facilities for training, research, and instrument appraisal underway.
Queshan's violin makers continue to look outward for customers, knowledge, and new ways to improve. Wang Jinwu recently attended the Cremona Musica International Exhibitions and Festival in Italy, where he visited local violin workshops to observe makers and study their techniques. He acknowledged that Italian violin making has a much longer history and that there is still much for Queshan's industry to learn.
Key points
- Queshan County produces around 400,000 violins annually, with about 80% being exported worldwide.
- The industry has created employment opportunities for over 2,600 local residents.
- Queshan's violin makers continue to seek knowledge and improvement from international counterparts, such as those in Italy.
