Xu Bilan, a performer of Chinese vertical konghou (an ancient plucked stringed instrument in China) residing in Zhongshan's Sanxiang Town, posted on her WeChat Moments on March 24, saying that Huang Yiqi, who is known as "the first in China to reshape the playable (Tang) vertical konghou", was once again shown on a big screen in New York's Times Square to showcase the exquisite beauty of konghou to the world.

Huang Yiqi and his wife Xu Bilan are from Hong Kong. In 1980, they met Professor Cao Zheng of the China Conservatory of Music in Hong Kong, and later developed a strong interest in konghou.

In 1998, a Japanese artist participated in the Hong Kong Arts Festival with a konghou. Huang Yiqi also attended the festival, and he recorded the information and data of the musical instrument. Right after he returned home, Huang immediately drew a diagram of the konghou. This drawing helped him a lot later in the recovery production of konghou.

"We returned to Guangzhou's Nansha, and started to make konghous," said Xu Bilan. After retirement, Huang Yiqi settled in Nansha District with his wife and later moved to Zhongshan's Sanxiang Town, where they are engaged in the remanufacturing and performance study of konghou.

After four years' efforts, they finally succeeded in producing two playable ancient konghous in 2011. In 2021, Huang Yiqi won the title of "Top Ten Makers of China" of traditional Chinese instruments.

"This is the second time Mr Huang making an appearance on a big screen in New York's Times Square. We hope that more people can know about and love konghou," said Xu Bilan.