Zhi Mo is a dugout (wa-zheng) guzheng from our Zhenpin series, built for concert performance and serious collecting. It suits players with solid foundations who want one instrument for the long term, and is a frequent choice among conservatory teachers.
The soundboard is carved from a single block of paulownia rather than laminated, so the wood fibres stay continuous and transmit vibration more directly. Bridges are hand-finished in hardwood and matched to the soundboard arch instrument by instrument; string height and action are checked by a player before shipping.
The voice is warm and full: bright but never harsh in the upper register, rounded through the middle, with real depth in the bass. Dynamics respond evenly under the fingers, and the decay stays controlled — good for long practice sessions and recording.
Keep the instrument away from radiators, air-conditioning airflow and direct sun, with room humidity between 40% and 60%. Loosening the strings moderately after playing greatly extends the life of the soundboard; the tone keeps opening up over the years.
For more on dugout construction and how it differs from laminated boards, see the difference between dugout and laminated guzheng.
Buying advice: this model is listed at CNY 20000, which is the entry price in the range of the 8 models in the Zhenpin series (prices run CNY 20000 to CNY 108000).Zhiyan (CNY 21000) is the next step up and is worth comparing if your budget is close. Bulk pricing is explained in How to order.
FAQ: What is the difference between a dugout and a laminated guzheng in the Zhenpin series? A dugout top is carved from a single block of paulownia with the fibres unbroken, giving fuller resonance and longer decay, at the cost of a much longer build. A laminated top is glued from several boards: more consistent and better value. Neither is absolutely better — it depends on your budget and what you want from the tone.
Suitable for: this dugout guzheng is aimed at professional players, serious amateurs and collectors. Zhonghong also supplies conservatories, ensembles and music shops with batch orders, configuring and tuning instruments uniformly. Schools, ensembles or institutions can use the enquiry form to tell us quantities and scenarios, and we will send a written quotation.
The grain of the aged wood is genuine, not a veneer, delivery was two days late, and I was getting anxious, very happy overall!
The workmanship really is careful, the edges are rounded off smoothly, the colour is a shade darker than the photos, but it feels better made, the crate was very large, and I could not move it on my own, I'll be back!
A friend plays in a Chinese orchestra, and said it is very fair at this price. It shipped the day after I ordered, delivery was faster than I expected, the sound is very clean, with none of that muffled buzz. I would recommend it!
Worth every penny, I have already recommended it to classmates.
I hesitated for a long time, and ordered during a promotion, the low register is full, and Fisherman's Song at Dusk sounds wonderful on it, customer service was very patient, and answered every question one by one. At this price, value for money is not the point, it is about the wood and the work, very happy overall!
I was playing a practice instrument that cost a few thousand, and moving to this feels like a different instrument. It feels very solid overall, and it does not shift even when you play hard, a friend heard it at my place, and asked where I bought it!
They sent me a video of the actual instrument before shipping, which put my mind at rest, I took it to a lesson, and my teacher said the tone was good too!
I had been watching this shop for a long time, and finally ordered, the grain on the soundboard looks natural, the finish is thin, and you can tell it was applied by hand. This is one that could be passed down!
A friend recommended them, she said hers has given no trouble in three years. It looks even better made in person than in the photos, you can see the details far more clearly.
My child loves it.
Better than I expected.
The instrument arrived, and the moment I opened the crate I knew the money had been well spent. It came in a wooden crate packed with thick foam, five days in transit and not a single knock, the resonance is better than I expected, and it holds up on something like Fighting the Typhoon, I plan to keep it for my child.
It took over a month to ship, but once it arrived the wait felt worth it. Customer service even showed me how to tune it, so I was not nervous picking it up for the first time. The edges are finished very cleanly, with no rough spots, very happy overall.
I compared several sellers, and went with this one, the tuning pins are set just right, neither loose nor stiff, after-sales rang me to check it had arrived, which is rare!