Pearl River Piano Group is marking its 70th anniversary with the launch of two commemorative vertical pianos: the Pearl River P70 and Kayserburg K70. Designed to honor the company’s roots while showcasing its progress, these new models turn seven decades of expertise into instruments built for the next generation of musicians.
The Pearl River story started in Guangzhou in 1956 when a small group of Chinese craftsmen aimed to do something many thought was impossible: building a piano from scratch that could someday compete with the best in the world. The new company began with 55 workers and a workshop only 20 square meters in size, about the same as a single-car garage. By the end of its first year, Pearl River had sold just 13 pianos.
Those instruments marked the beginning of a remarkable growth story. Today, Pearl River Piano Group is the largest piano manufacturer in the world and one of the biggest musical instrument producers globally. Its 3.2-million-square-foot manufacturing facility employs over 4,000 workers and makes instruments under the Pearl River, Ritmüller, and Kayserburg brands, along with guitars, violins, and other orchestral and modern instruments.
Instead of just looking back, Pearl River chose to celebrate its anniversary by creating two pianos that show what 70 years of learning can achieve. The Pearl River P70 is a 48-inch upright piano designed to fill a room with the warmth, depth, and presence of a baby grand. An extended string scale, responsive solid bass bridge, precision CNC slotting process, and vertically laminated solid-capped long bridge all contribute to its expansive tone and projection. Its all-wood action and constant-lever-ratio key frame are built to provide a smooth, natural, and highly controlled playing experience.
The P70 also highlights its anniversary status. Its sleek polished ebony cabinet is accented with Rose Gold hardware, Sandalwood details, carefully chosen veneers, and decorative carving inspired by traditional Eastern architecture. The result is a piano designed not only as a musical instrument but also as a stylish piece of furniture-quality design.
The Kayserburg K70, a commanding 50.5-inch vertical, marks its anniversary from a different perspective. Its forward-leaning back frame brings grand-piano design to the vertical form, while asymmetric back posts are placed to support structural integrity and tonal clarity. Integrated sound-transmission windows in the cabinet help project the instrument’s voice more openly into the room.
Röslau strings, Renner hammers with red underfelt, a solid tapered spruce soundboard, and Kayserburg’s Duo-Spine action contribute to the K70’s rich tonal character, responsive touch, and performance stability. Its polished ebony cabinet, silver hardware, and substantial architectural profile give the instrument a quietly formidable presence.
“An anniversary piano should do more than commemorate the past. It should show what 70 years of learning makes possible,” said Li Jianning, Chairman of Pearl River Piano Group. “The P70 and K70 honor the people who built our first instruments, while pointing toward the refinement, performance, and design that will define our next chapter.”
Together, the two anniversary models express a belief that has guided Pearl River from its earliest days: every generation of instruments should improve upon the one before it. Advances in materials, manufacturing precision, action design, tonal projection, and cabinet artistry are not treated as departures from tradition, but as ways to carry that tradition forward.
For more information, visit pearlriverpiano.com.
