Yao Xin (Hanson Yao) is one of China's most respected contemporary guitar luthiers. After studying woodworking and craftsmanship at the China Academy of Art, Hanson travelled to Spain in the early 2000s to study the traditions of classical guitar making directly from the Spanish school of luthiery. Today, he continues to build his own concert instruments while leading the design, development and production of Altamira guitars.

Altamira's workshop is located in Conghua, near Guangzhou, China, where Hanson leads and manages a skilled team of craftspeople who share his commitment to quality, precision and traditional guitar-making principles. Every instrument is built with respect for the craft, carefully selected materials and rigorous quality standards. We believe that exceptional guitars are the result of knowledge, experience and integrity, and we are proud to be transparent about where and how our instruments are made.

Hanson's concert guitars have been performed by internationally acclaimed artists including René Izquierdo, David Russell, Aniello Desiderio, Irina Kulikova, Martha Masters, Pavel Steidl, Ricardo Gallén, Gabriel Bianco, Elina Chekan and many others.

His personal concert models are built to the exact requirements of professional musicians, with the Hanson N2 (traditional construction) and Hanson N3 (double-top construction) among his most recognised designs. For more information about these instruments, please contact us using the enquiry form below.

Hanson's passion extends beyond building guitars. He believes that preserving the traditions of classical guitar depends not only on exceptional instruments, but also on investing in musicians and education. This philosophy led to the creation of the Altamira Guitar Art Foundation, which supports concerts, festivals, masterclasses and educational initiatives around the world, helping the next generation of guitarists and keeping the traditions of classical guitar craftsmanship and performance alive.