Hua Tian is the Kaoji model for younger students, in a bright colourway, for children and teens, and a common choice for equipping music classrooms.
Structurally it shares the specification of Yun Jian, with added warp resistance in the top and side boards: classrooms are unstable environments and the body must tolerate them.
The tone is bright but not sharp — children's hearing is sensitive, and an aggressive top makes beginners tense. The upper middle register here is restrained, which is easier over long practice.
For classroom instruments, check bridges and tuning pins weekly. Dust with a dry cloth only; moisture is the first enemy of the soundboard.
For exam grades and sizing, see graded exam guzheng buying guide.
Buying advice: this model is listed at CNY 5500, which is a lower price in the range of the 8 models in the Kaoji series (prices run CNY 5000 to CNY 8560).Dancing Butterflies (CNY 7000) is the next step up and is worth comparing if your budget is close. To keep the budget down, start from Warm Lotus (CNY 5000). Among the Clouds sits at the same price with a different look and voicing — pick on taste. Bulk pricing is explained in How to order.
FAQ: How far will an exam-series instrument take a student? The series covers the full cycle from beginner to upper-intermediate, and the corresponding grade range is noted on each product page. Students aiming at music-specialist school admission should choose the upper models of this series.
Suitable for: the Grading series is for young students, training centres and exam candidates — stable tuning and comfortable action make it a reliable choice for grading and daily practice. Batch orders for studios and schools are quoted by quantity with a specification list. Send your quantities and scenario through the enquiry form.
I read through the reviews before buying, and it was not a mistake, my child practises an hour a day, and likes it more the more she plays. The colour is a shade darker than the photos, but it feels better made.
Our training school ordered six at once, and a term later there have been no problems. It came in a wooden crate packed with thick foam, five days in transit and not a single knock, compared with my last one, the difference was obvious straight away, customer service was a little slow to reply, and only answered the second time I asked!
The sound is very clean, with none of that muffled buzz. It shipped the day after I ordered, delivery was faster than I expected, there is a slight difference between the colour and the website, but it is acceptable, I'll be back.
It lives in the teaching room, where students take turns on it, and it takes the wear, it looks even better made in person than in the photos, you can see the details far more clearly. It costs a little more than comparable instruments, but the workmanship really is different. Very happy with it!
This is my second purchase here, and the feel is just as I remembered, the top is bright without being shrill, and the bass really goes down, the sustain lasts a long time, they sent me a video of the actual instrument before shipping, which put my mind at rest, this much workmanship at this price, there is nothing to find fault with.
The bridges are smoothed off nicely, and do not catch your hand when you shift position. A friend heard it at my place, and asked where I bought it, at this price it holds its own against anything. Very happy overall.
I had been watching this shop for a long time, and finally ordered, it feels very solid overall, and it does not shift even when you play hard.
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, the tuning pins are set just right, neither loose nor stiff, worth the price.
A friend recommended them, she said hers has given no trouble in three years. Customer service even showed me how to tune it, so I was not nervous picking it up for the first time. The grain on the soundboard looks natural, the finish is thin, and you can tell it was applied by hand!
Bought it for my child's graded exams, and the teacher says it is enough, the tone overall is on the warm side, rather than bright, which I prefer. Customer service was very patient, and answered every question one by one. Five stars!
I compared several sellers, and went with this one, after-sales rang me to check it had arrived, which is rare, I'd buy again!
It is lighter than my old one, and my child can carry it herself, the edges are finished very cleanly, with no rough spots, the string spacing is even, the octaves are true, and it barely needs adjusting.