PUBLIC pianos at Huaqiangbei in Futian District were found vandalized and covered in graffiti, and some of the keyboards were broken, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

There are a total of eight public pianos at the entrance of Metro stations and their surrounding areas for the public to play. Each piano features different themed drawings.

Although there are notices stuck on the pianos to remind people to take care of them, unpermitted doodling was found.

Some of the graffiti is of small advertisements, some read “I was here,” while others are phone numbers.

The pianos were put there by Huaqiangbei Subdistrict Office last year and had attracted many residents, according to a volunteer at a nearby charity blood donation booth.

A piano lover who was not identified told the reporter with the Daily that her office is in the area and she comes to play the piano each week, so she is familiar with the situation.

She observed that all of the pianos have certain problems, especially the keyboards. Two of the pianos are unplayable.

“The strings should be tuned every half a year. As everyone is welcome to play the pianos, it would be difficult to manage,” the female resident added.

Several residents at the site said they were heartbroken to see the pianos ruined without knowing who should be held responsible.

Liu Dingjue, director with the cultural station of Huaqiangbei Subdistrict Office, said after the reporter briefed them on the case that they had already informed the sponsoring company and asked them to check the pianos, and that they would hire tuners to regularly maintain the pianos.

He also urged residents to protect public service equipment.

(Wang Jingli)