The "Wind from South" Guangdong Pop Music Special Exhibition opened at the Guangdong Cultural Center in Guangzhou's Tianhe district on Oct 29, and will last until Nov 26.

The exhibition is divided into four periods: 1978-89, 1990-99, 2000-11 and 2012-23, systematically combing the development of Guangdong's pop music from the period of reform and opening up to the new era. It also displays the achievements of Guangdong's pop music through pictures, text interpretation, real products, and audio-visual installation.

Old items that reflect the history of Guangdong's pop music are displayed at the exhibition. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]

"Guangdong took the lead in reform and opening up in China in 1978, when China's pop music also came into being in the province," said Chen Xiaoqi, executive vice chairman of the China Pop Musicians Association and honorary president of the Guangdong Pop Music Association.

The first pop band on the Chinese mainland – the Violet Light Tone Band, was born in Guangdong, as were the Oriental Hotel Music Tea House, the first modern music tea house, Pacific Audio & Video Co, the first modern audio and video company, and the "Jianpai" Song Contest, the first pop music chart.

In the new era, the province has made use of its advantages in the digital internet industry and given birth to leading digital music companies such as QQ Music, Kugou Music and Litchi FM.

Guests share their experiences and points of view at the exhibition's opening ceremony. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]

Wu Fusheng, author of the History of Guangdong Pop Music, Mai Weiping, director of the Music FM at the Guangdong Radio and Television, and Zhao Yimin, general manager of Pacific Audio & Video, were invited to the exhibition's opening ceremony to share their thoughts and experiences.

Pacific Audio & Video set up the first audio and video award ceremony, called "Lark Awards", and released the first album of Taiwan-born star singer Fei Xiang on the Chinese mainland. "Pacific is currently cooperating with the world's top record companies and music platforms, striving to export the songs of domestic musicians to the world and tell our Chinese story through music," said Zhao.

Mai expressed his hope that the exhibition will make young musicians more in tune with the spirit of their predecessors, so that "the wind from the south can continue to blow".

Visitors navigate the exhibition. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]