Christopher Evans, a translator by profession, began taking lessons in the guqin from SUN Guisheng in 1987, whilst working in Beijing. In 1992 he began more formal lessons at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, learning the guqin under the tuition of GONG Yi and attending courses in Chinese music theory and folk music under CHEN Yingshi and HUANG Bai. He left the Conservatory in July 1994 to return to work.