Zhao Jun comes from a family of instrument makers: the Zhao workshop was set up in Danyang in the Ming Wanli era, first building guqin and huqin, and for generations has made erhu for court and conservatory players. He is the 13th-generation heir, and builds each erhu by hand — wood, snakeskin and bow matched to the player's tuning and touch.
Recognised at national and provincial level.
- National Advanced Individual in Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection — Ministry of Culture and Tourism, October 2024
- Representative inheritor, Zhao-family erhu-making — 5th batch of Jiangsu provincial ICH, September 2020
- Jiangsu Time-honoured Brand (江苏省商务厅 · Jiangsu Provincial Department of Commerce)
- International erhu-making master · Gold Award, 1st National Erhu Making Competition
- Provincial rural crafts master · Senior arts and crafts artist · Zhenjiang arts and crafts master · Danyang “Top Ten Craftsmen”
- Member of the Danyang CPPCC · Standing council member, China Nationalities Orchestra Society (instrument reform & making committee)