Ji Jiarong (the man in white), 74, shows a giant erhu he made at Liuji village, Baidian township, Haian county, Jiangsu province, Aug 21, 2015. [Photo/IC]

Elderly man makes giant erhu to claim Guinness world record

A senior citizen from East China spent more than four months making an enormous erhu, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument, in an effort to set a new Guinness world record, Nantong Daily reported.

The erhu, a two-stringed musical instrument, sometimes known in the West as the "Chinese violin," is often used as a solo instrument, as well as in small ensembles and large orchestras.

The 74-year-old Ji Jiarong's self-made giant erhu is 4.98 meters in height, and has a bow length of 4.5 meters.

Ji, from Hai'an county in Jiangsu province, has been walking with difficulty ever since he suffered polio during his childhood. Later in life, he became an erhu enthusiast, playing the instrument with a musical group in town.

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