The qin or guqin, Chinese 7-stringed zither, is one of China’s oldest and most significant classical instruments which UNESCO has declared a ‘masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity’.  

The London Youlan Qin Society (LYQS) is Europe’s first and most influential voluntary cultural organisation focusing on the music, philosophy and social significance of the guqin.  LYQS holds an annual guqin festival featuring international  Masters and has trained over 600 players through its annual summer school and regular meetings and classes.  Visiting Masters include Prof. Li Xianting; Gong Yi; Zheng Chengwei; Li Fengyun; Wang Jianxin and Dai Xiaolin.  

The guqin is regarded as a scholarly instrument and the first of the four traditional art forms of the literati alongside Chinese chess (Go), calligraphy, and ink painting.

The Society holds regular yaji gatherings for members to perform and discuss issues related to the guqin.