The guzheng is a 21-stringed zither that has been played in China – in one form or another – for about two thousand years. Aside from having 21 strings (compared to the guqin‘s 7 strings), the guzheng’s other major difference from the guqin is that there are bridges: This means that the left hand can change pitches by bending the strings up and down, whereas the guqin changes pitches by a horizontal motion like a slide guitar.
In the video below, Wu Fei introduces the guzheng and performs the Fishermans’ Evening Song or Fisherman’s Serenade (渔舟唱晚), which was rearranged from its folk origins and standardized into the repertoire by Lou Shuhua.
You can also watch the video on Tudou (accessible on China’s eunuch Internet) and Youtube (blocked in China but sometimes faster than Vimeo).
More about the Guzheng and Wu Fei
Wikipedia: The guzheng
Danwei: Paper Boy: A contemporary composition for the guzheng;
Interview with Wu Fei in 2007 (also on Tudou)
Wu Fei’s website.
Youtube: Akramachamarei from John Zorn’s Xaphan: The Book of Angels (Massada series) performed by Secret Chiefs 3 with Wu Fei on guzheng.
Philmutic: Guzheng
Melody of China: Guzheng