Having impressed the classical music world for almost two decades, Chinese pianist Lang Lang returned to Shenyang on August 29 to perform his first concert for his hometown fans, Sohu.com reports.

Chinese pianist Lang Lang stages a concert in his hometown city of Shenyang in northeast China's Liaoning Province on Sunday, August 29, 2010. [CFP]

Parents took their children to watch and hear Lang Lang, whose road to success has been eagerly studied by locals. He played a mixed repertoire of Western and Asian concertos.

Zhao Benshan, one of the country's best-known comedians who also has roots in Shenyang, played the erhu - a traditional Chinese bowed string instrument - during a duet with Lang Lang.

Lang Lang, 28, left Shenyang to pursue his music career at the age of nine, first at Beijing's Central Conservatory of Music and later at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He has been hailed by "The New York Times" as "the hottest artist on the classical music planet."

Lang Lang was recently named Shenyang's image ambassador by the city municipal government and is committed to publicizing his hometown.