CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- “Successful, faster runs my horse in the vernal breeze, I've seen within one day all flowers on the trees.” With a childish smile, Huang Youzhi introduced himself with a line from an ancient poem. He started to learn piano from the pianist Lang Lang when he was three years old and learned Chinese poetry at the age of four. Huang Youzhi is known as a ‘little music and poetry artist’ for his piano music for Chinese poetry.

With his great passion for music and poetry, Huang Youzhi participated in the 2024 Chinese Poetry Conference on the evening of March 17. He is the only selected student in Chongqing and he studies in Grade 4 at Blue Lake County International Department of Bashu Primary School in Liangjiang New Area.

Huang Youzhi regards Lang Lang as his idol since he is young and creates piano music for Chinese poetry

“The crescent moon looks like old Autumn's golden brow, its deep reflection flows with limpid waterblue. I'll leave the town on Clear Stream for Three Canyons now, O Moon, how I miss you when you are out of view.” Huang Youzhi played the piano and recited the poem ‘The Moon over the Eyebrow Mountains’ at the same time, which impressed everyone present at the 2024 Chinese Poetry Conference.

I love to appreciate the beauty of poetry by playing piano music, said Huang Youzhi. The little boy, who had played four-handed pieces with Lang Lang, was calm and eloquent on the stage. At the 2024 Chinese Poetry Conference, he performed the piano pieces he composed for the ancient poems ‘Successful at the Civil Service Examinations’ and ‘The Moon over the Eyebrow Mountains’, which expressed Meng Jiao’s joyfulness and Li Bai’s homesickness and earned him a resounding round of applause.

The guest Yang Yu was amazed by the musical talent of Huang Youzhi, saying that, “Most of his peers are still undergoing skill training, but he has been able to integrate his emotions into his piano music! Poetry gives him empathy ability.”

“I’m happy for you, Youzhi. I believe you will make friends with other poets and enjoy the fun of poetry at the Chinese Poetry Conference. Come on!” Learning that Huang Yangzhi was going to participate in the 2024 Chinese Poetry Conference, Lang Lang sent his best wishes and played a song to cheer him on.

"I like Lang Lang very much. I have watched and studied his performance since I was a child." With an enthusiasm for piano, Huang Youzhi regards Lang Lang as his idol and joins Lang Lang's piano class. He has played four-handed pieces with Lang Lang.

The average number of ancient poems studied by Huang Youzhi’s classmates is nearly 300

Huang Youzhi’s love for poetry originated from school training.

Huang’s school offers a wide variety of activities related to Chinese poetry, such as the poetry meeting in the class, the 8-minute poetry explanation, and the exciting ‘Feihualing’.

Our students start reciting ancient poems that are not required by textbooks and develop a good habit of poem learning from early grades, said Zhang Xiaoyan, a Chinese teacher at the school. It is hoped that these learning methods can stimulate students' love for poetry, offer them an insight into the cultural connotation of poetry, and enhance their confidence in Chinese culture, Zhang added.

The average number of ancient poems studied by Huang Youzhi’s classmates amounts to nearly 300. Children are not only familiar with the ancient style of language but also build some preliminary knowledge of ancient poetry scholars and dynasties. They are also able to apply the poems to their lives. (Translated by Yuki, Fathom Language Limited)