Wuxi was designated as “City of Music” by UNESCO's Creative Cities Network on October 31, becoming the first city in China to receive this honor.

The city has a rich musical heritage dating back to ancient times. For example, over 500 musical instruments were unearthed from the tombs of nobles of the ancient Yue State in Hongshan, offering a glimpse into the musical traditions of 2,500 years ago.

The city also gave birth to renowned musicians such as Ah Bing, a blind erhu (two-stringed Chinese fiddle) and pipa virtuoso, and Liu Tianhua, a distinguished Chinese composer, performer and educator. Of the ten most celebrated erhu compositions, eight originated in Wuxi, including “The Moon Reflected on the Second Spring”, which has gained worldwide acclaim.

Today, Wuxi is home to a rich array of artistic institutions, including ensembles for traditional Chinese music, symphony orchestras, dance and drama troupes, and the Wuxi Opera Theatre. The city also ranks among the world's leading producers of erhu, harmonicas and harps, while community initiatives such as “Art Night School” continue to flourish in popularity.