Tacheng City, Tacheng Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China - Sept 10, 2020 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Accordion collection
2. Various of accordions
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dauren Duysenkhanov, accordionist (ending with shot 4):
(Reporter: "How many accordions are there in this room?")
"There are over 1,200 accordions in this room. The oldest one was made before the Second World War."
4. Various of parts of accordions
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dauren Duysenkhanov, accordionist (ending with shot 6):
"This is a 'Seagull' brand accordion."
(Reporter: "What's special about its tone?")
"A very bright tone."
6. Duysenkhanov pointing brand name
7. Duysenkhanov playing accordion
8. Duysenkhanov repairing accordions
9. Various of Duysenkhanov checking parts of accordion
10. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dauren Duysenkhanov, accordionist (starting with shot 9):
"For most of these accordions, their owner may or may not be there anymore but I still repaired them. The broken reeds, broken keys, and cracked bellows were all fixed. I then played them on the stage and many were very grateful."
11. Various of Duysenkhanov, other accordionists playing accordion; locals dancing
12. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) resident (name not given) (starting with shot 11):
"The accordion is a musical instrument that is inseparable from gatherings of friends, classmates, family gatherings, and weddings. When they hear this accordion, everyone gets excited."
13. Duysenkhanov, other accordionists playing accordion; locals dancing

An accordion enthusiast in Tacheng City of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is helping preserve the city's heritage through repairing and collecting the much-loved accordion, the musical instrument which embodies the city's culture.

Music and dance are the cultural lifeblood of Tacheng City, a city on the border with Kazakhstan, with influences from Russian and other neighboring cultures. Strolling through the streets and lanes of Tacheng, the melody of an accordion is always floating in the air.

People here have a deep affinity with the instrument.

The reason for their affinity can be explained by local accordion fanatics- Like Dauren Duysenkhanov, who boasts a collection of some of the most fascinating accordions in the country.

He has collected over 1,200 accordions.

"The oldest one was made before the Second World War," said Duysenkhanov.

Every accordion is distinct from the others in the eyes of an accordion lover.

This blue "Seagull" brand accordion is a special one. It has a distinct characteristic – "A very bright tone," Duysenkhanov added.

The accordion is a "young" instrument in the history of music, but it carries memories of generations. And the collector doesn't want his instruments to stay on the shelves.

"For most of these accordions, their owner may or may not be there anymore but I still repaired them. The broken reeds, broken keys, and cracked bellows were all fixed. I then played them on the stage and many were very grateful," said Duysenkhanov.

For Tacheng residents of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds, the accordion is an important part of daily life.

"The accordion is a musical instrument that is inseparable from gatherings of friends, classmates, family gatherings, and weddings. When they hear this accordion, everyone gets excited," said a local resident.