This Day, That Year

An item from Sept 20, 1994, in China Daily showed Zheng Xiaofeng, 22, performing a piece by Chopin at the first China International Piano Competition at the Beijing Concert Hall.

Thirty-seven pianists from more than 10 countries and regions took part in the event.

Thanks to rapid economic

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up policy.

growth in the past decades, the piano has become popular in China with millions of children and young people learning to master the instrument.

Every year, hundreds of piano competitions, organized by professional institutions, local governments and companies, are held across the country.

The newspaper and beyond

The latest was the 11th Shanghai International Youth Piano Competition, which concluded last month, attracting more than 60,000 children and adolescents from all over the country.

The success of piano players Li Yundi and Lang Lang helped spur interest among increasing numbers of parents and children.

The two pianists have gained international recognition.

In 2000, Li won first prize and a special prize at the Fry- deryk Chopin Society in Warsaw. He was the youngest winner of the competition and the first Chinese pianist to win the title.

As one of the world’s major piano producers and buyers, about 360,000 pianos are made in China every year.

The country accounts for more than 70 percent of global output. Imports of higherquality pianos — mainly from Europe, the United States and Japan — have also increased.