A women's orchestra that specializes in the traditional musical instrument, Zheng, or Chinese zither, left their home of Huludao City in the northeast China's Liaoning Province for Ireland Wednesday.

The group has 16 members and many of them are prizewinners in national and international contests.

The China Oriental Women's Zheng Orchestra, based in Huludao, an island city known as the "Chinese Island of Zheng," was sent on this mission at the order of the Chinese Ministry of Culture.

They will give three performances in Ireland, one for staff of the Chinese embassy and local Chinese and another two for the Irish people, according to ministry officials. 

(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2004)