According to Feng Hao, spokesman for Shanghai Shentong Metro Group Co, operator of Shanghai Metro, more than 20 metro concerts have been held in People's Square station on Sunday afternoons since the program started more than four months ago.
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra offered excellent artists, referred to as "cultural volunteers", to roll out the concerts in January. In April, Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, which performs folk music, joined in, says Feng, adding the program won't be one-off event.
"We want it to be sustainable," he says.
Metro concerts attract not only music fans, curious passengers and nearby residents, but also those who arrive an hour early all the way from the other end of the city for their favorite artist. Cao Xinggui, 71, is one of them.
Cao, who used to play the traditional Chinese instrument pipa, a four-stringed Chinese lute, says he traveled a long way to hear Duan Ai'ai, the famous Chinese erhu player on April 21.
The retired worker was sent by his district's community folk orchestra to "learn from the expert".
"They (the rest of the community folk orchestra) will come next weekend," says Cao, adding the format of free concerts in metro stations makes it possible for ordinary people like him to meet professional musicians.
China’s weekly story
(2013.5.18- 5.24)
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