On July 14, Beijing Gangwashi Church launched a summer class in Guzheng, a traditional Chinese plucked zither with a history spanning over 2,500 years.
According to the church, the course was led by Ms. Li Yun, a Guzheng major from the Central Conservatory of Music. Designed specifically for beginners with no prior experience, the curriculum included basic fingering techniques, repertoire practice, and music theory. Ms. Li employed a teaching approach that blended theoretical instruction with hands-on practice, enabling students to develop guzheng playing skills in an engaging environment.
Founded by the London Missionary Society in 1863, Gangwashi Church is one of the earliest Protestant churches in Beijing. Initially serving both as a hospital and a place of worship, the church was destroyed during the Boxer Rebellion and rebuilt in 1903. It joined the Church of Christ in China in 1922, embracing self-support and integrating church, hospital, and school ministries. Forced to close during the Cultural Revolution, the church resumed worship in 1980, becoming one of the first to reopen in the capital. Today, it has over 5,000 members and holds four Sunday services. It has also welcomed foreign dignitaries, including U.S. President George W. Bush and two Secretaries of State.
