Although there are many traditional Chinese instruments, there's a particular instrument that I have always found deeply moving. I first discovered it about 20 years ago, and as soon as I knew what it was called, I collected video and audio recordings to listen to, over and over. It was love.

If you haven't already guessed it (or even heard of it), I'm talking about the èrhú, a Chinese violin with only two strings, whose bow, perhaps strangely, is mounted between them, unable to be easily separated from the instrument. The sound produced by its little wooden body is haunting and powerful, and the range is surprising, for such a small instrument.

While this little violin has nothing, in fact, to do with my decision to start learning Chinese, it has, perhaps predictably, become rather present in my life, since doing so. It features in a good number of Chinese films and is very culturally relevant, even today, despite its years.

I hope you enjoy this stunning little violin as much as I do.