Internationally renowned pianist Lang Lang played for the rural "left-behind" children in China's Gansu Province in a charity concert to raise funds.
The concert was attended by business people from different parts of China and hundreds of local elementary students, many of which are considered "left-behind," a term for rural children whose parents, typically working in big cities, are not living with them. They are usually left to the care of grandparents.
The concert, which was held in the Hui autonomous region of Linxia on Monday, lasted for two hours where Lang amused the audience with works by Debussy's Ballade and Chopin.
According to Xinhua, the entrepreneurs donated 6 million yuan (870,000 US dollars) for these children. The money is to be used in welfare projects, including music lessons.
During the event Lang said that he understands that life is harder for "left-behind" children than those children who are living with their parents.
Thera are approximately 61 million "left-behind" children in the rural villages of China, and studies show that 70 percent of these children suffer from emotional trauma, depression or anxiety, ABC Net reported.
"I want to help them with free music education," he said.
Lang is known to inspire not only with his achievements in the classical music arena but also with his charitable works. Through his own Lang Lang International Music Foundation, he extends his passion by bringing music into the lives of children.
