Erhu 二胡

Pronounced èrhú (urrh-hoo) in

Mandarin, it is a two-string, violin-like
instrument that is played with a bow
like a violin bow. It isn’t as loud a violin
because the sound box is small. The
sound box traditionally has a snakeskin
cover, but modern instruments are
made with modern materials.

Guzheng 古箏
Pronounced gǔzhēng (goo-jung) in
Mandarin, it is a large 18–23-or-
more stringed instrument. It is
said that it is an ancestor of the
Japanese koto. It isn’t commonly
played in parks or on the streets. It
is meant for Chinese opera and
concert performances, and it is
often played in traditional music
ensembles. It is usually played by
female musicians.

Pipa 琵琶
The pipa (pípá, pee-pah) is a four-
stringed Chinese musical instrument.
The instrument has a pear-shaped
wooden body with frets like those on
a guitar. It sounds like a banjo.The
pipa became popular as Silk Road
trade and travel brought Buddhism,
and great change, to the region.
 Dizi 笛子
Dizis are generally made of
bamboo, and they generally have
six or more finger holes. One hole
is covered with paper so that the
flute has a peculiar buzzing sound
that people like.

Dulcimer 扬琴
Dulcimer, a kind of strike-stringed
instrument, was firstly introduced
to China by Persian (an ancient
Arabic country) at the end of Ming
Dynasty. In the performance, it
plays a role like the piano. Two jean
bamboos (a kind of elastic small
bamboo hammer) are used to strike
the strings.

Guqin 古琴
Also called heptachord, Guqin is one
of the oldest plucked instruments in
China, which appeared not late than
Yao and Shun period. Players pluck
the string by right hand and press by
left hand.
Huqin 胡琴
Huqin is a kind of Mongolian arco instrument. Due to its gentle and resonant
sound that is full of prairie flavor, Huqin is a good choice for solo,
accompaniment and instrumental ensemble. Now Huqin is very popular in Inner
Mongolia.

Liuqin 柳琴
Liuqin, a plucked stringed musical instrument, firstly appeared in Suzhou,
Shandong and Anhui, which has been one of the stringed instruments with a
pear-shaped body since the Tang Dynasty. Its appearance, structure and the
law of playing are similar to Pipa. Liuqin is often used to accompany the
traditional Chinese opera.

Hulus 葫芦丝
Hulus, a kind of free reed wind instrument, is one of the special music
instruments among Yunnan ethnic minorities. Because of its unique and
beautiful sound, simple, gentle and elegant appearance, and easy to learn,
Hulus is welcome by primary and middle school students, music lovers and
visitors from home and abroad.

Xiao 箫
Xiao, also named, is a Chinese vertical end-blown flute. Usually it is made of
bamboo and has blow holes on the top. The performance techniques of Xiao are
similar to bamboo flute, and Xiao is suitable for playing some long, quiet and
sentimental songs.
Suona 唢呐
Introduced by Persian, Suona, also named horn, is a kind of Chinese playing
music instrument. Because of its keen and resonant sound, Suona is often used
in yangko, drum music and to accompany local opera and ballad.

Lusheng 芦笙
Lusheng is a yellow wind instrument for Miao, Yao and Dong ethnic minority in
southwestern area. Lusheng is made of Sheng measure, Sheng tube, reeds and
resonance tube. As a popular music instrument for ethnic minorities, people like
holding Lusheng party to celebrate their own national festivals.

Sun 埙
Sun is an egg-shaped playing music instrument with six holes, which is made of
clay. It is mainly used for court music in Chinese music history. The playing
techniques of Sun are air blowing and tongue blowing, and the fingering
techniques form its performance techniques.

Chimes 编钟
Made of bronze, Chimes are percussion instruments. Chimes are a set of bells
hanging on a big bell-cot, arranging according to different tones of bells. if you
use wooden hammer and bar to knock the bronze bell, it will have different
sound.