Where the Instruments Are Made
The Ming-Jiang Zhu Violin Workshop is located in the Baiyun District of Guangzhou, in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong. The current workshop occupies a dedicated space at No.1 Changdun Industrial Park, where each violin, viola, and cello is built entirely by hand by our team of master luthiers.
The workshop has operated continuously since its founding in 1991. Over more than three decades, it has grown from Ming-Jiang Zhu's original small atelier into a working studio that has shipped instruments to musicians and dealers worldwide — while preserving the methods, scale, and craft discipline that earned its founder international recognition.
Materials, Methods, and Scale
Aged European Wood
Our workshop sources spruce, maple, ebony, and other materials primarily from established European suppliers. Wood is aged for years before use — a discipline that materially affects the acoustic properties of the finished instrument.
Hand-Built, Cremonese Tradition
Each instrument is built using traditional methods derived from the Cremonese school, with no use of CNC or production-line shortcuts. Top plates, back plates, and scrolls are carved and graduated by hand.
Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati
The workshop's standard models follow the dimensional patterns of Stradivari, Guarneri "del Gesù," and Amati. Custom commissions can specify particular historical instruments as reference models.
Limited Annual Production
Because each instrument is hand-built and rigorously quality-controlled, annual output is modest by industry standards. Master Grade commissions in particular involve a waiting period of approximately six months — in line with international Cremonese practice.
Visiting the Workshop
Visitors are welcome at the workshop by prior appointment. Walk-in visits are not accepted, both to ensure that someone can give you proper attention and because work at the bench cannot be paused on short notice. Most visitors are musicians considering an instrument, dealers reviewing inventory, or journalists and researchers covering Chinese luthiery.
- Send an inquiry — Please email us at least one to two weeks before your intended visit, indicating your interests (specific instruments, custom commission consultation, or general workshop tour).
- Confirm the appointment — We will reply with a confirmed date and time, and provide directions specific to your mode of transport.
- Visit — On the day of your visit, you will be shown the workshop, our current inventory of completed instruments, and (depending on schedule) work in progress at the bench.
- Trial — Musicians visiting to evaluate an instrument can play candidates in our viewing space, which is acoustically suitable for assessing tone and projection.
Location
WORKSHOP ADDRESS
Getting Here
Air + High-Speed Rail
Fly into Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN). The workshop is approximately a 30-minute drive from the airport. Alternatively, take the high-speed rail to Guangzhou South or Guangzhou East Station.
Metro & Taxi
Baiyun District is served by Guangzhou Metro. We will provide specific guidance with your appointment confirmation, including the nearest metro station and approximate taxi fare from central Guangzhou.
Contact
For appointments, inquiries, custom commissions, or general questions, please reach out by email. We typically reply within one to two business days.
Email: sales@mingjiangzhu.com