Bowed-string Instruments
Plucked-string Instruments
Wind Instruments
Percussion Instruments

Dizi
The dizi (or di), the transverse flute, is also known as hengchui or hengdi in the ancient times. It had its origin in the ethnic minorities of northwest China. In the reign of Emperor Han Wu, it was an important instrument in guchui (drum and wind music). Later, it became common all over the country, and many versions evolved. But generally they fell under either the qudi or the bangdi category. Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911), it has been used as an accompanying instrument in theatrical music.
The bangdi (a short dizi with membrane) is popular in the north, predominantly as an accompanying instrument to the regional Clapper Opera or as part of folk ensembles in the north. It is a little shorter and smaller than the qudi, with a higher register and brighter tone. It is performed with an animated and leaping rhythm. The technique is in tonguing. Representative works for bangdi solo include Wu Bangzi, A Happy Gathering and Birds in the Shade.
The qudi (a long dizi with membrane) is popular in the south, predominantly as an accompanying instrument to Kun Opera or as part of folk ensembles. In performance it characterizes itself with a rounded, rich tone. It is sweet and fluid, with a rhythm that progresses steadily to an expansiveness, while the melody tends to move in undulating patterns. The technique is in breathing control. Representative works for qudi solo include The Flying Partridge, Three Five Seven and A Journey to Gusu.
The dadi and xindi perform the low range of the dizi section. The xindi has no membrane and its tone colours are more on the muted side. The dadi has a membrane and its tone is deep and rich.

Other: Xindi, Bass Dadi, Crooked Dadi, Gudi

Sheng
The sheng is an ancient Chinese instrument made up of reeded sounding pipes. The inscriptions on bones of the Yin Dynasty (15th Century BC) already showed the existence of the sheng. The instrument was widely used as early as the Zhou Dynasty (ca 1066-256 BC). Before the Han Dynasty (206–220 BC), the two instruments sheng and yu which were of the same family existed alongside with each other, but only the sheng was commonly used after the Song Dynasty.
Structurally, the sheng is made up of three components – the sheng body, sounding pipe and reed. As its shape looks like the phoenix (feng) wings, accordingly in ancient times it was also known as fengsheng. As the instrument is made up of a number of reeds, it is often used to play chords. It has a brilliant and lucid tone quality. The present-day versions consist of 21, 24 and 36 reeds, and there are extended versions such as the amplified sheng, the alto baosheng, paisheng etc..
The sheng shows its unique character whether in terms of expressiveness, chords or dynamics. In the Chinese orchestra, it enriches with chords, balances or embellishes the tone qualities of various instrumental sections, and tones down the strength of certain instruments. One of the famous concerto pieces is The Peacock.

Other: Lusheng, 36-reed Saprano Sheng

Suona
The suona is one of the most wide spread wind instruments found in all ethnic groups in China. A "shawm" of Persia (now Iran) and Arabia origin, its name was originally a transliteration of a foreign term, surna. It was introduced into China in the Jin and Yuan periods, at first to inspire the soldiery. Later it came to be commonly used by the people.
Three types of suona now exist: the bass suona is solemn and deep, the alto suona is vigorous and sonorous, and the soprano suona, strident to the point of piercing.
It is used in festive celebrations, on happy occasions, weddings, funerals, and for religious functions. In the context of the Chinese orchestra, it has been constantly reformed and improved, and today, there are keyed soprano, keyed alto, keyed tenor and keyed bass versions. It is an expressive instrument for solo performance, and is rich in folk colour. Representative solo pieces include Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix and A Spray of Flowers.

Guan
The guan was known as bili in ancient times. It was brought to China from Qiuci (a region in today's Xinjiang province) around the Sui Dynasty. The bili was a very important instrument in the Nine and Ten Genres of Music in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, hence it was called the "Head Guan". Nowadays it is usually called guan or guanzi. The instrument can be found all over China, and is mainly found in folk guchui (drum and wind) music and Buddhist and Taoist music.
There are different varieties of guan which are called differently from region to region. For example, it is called houguan in Guangdong and guanzi in the north. Generally a single guan is used, but sometimes two may also be used in performances. The tone quality of guanzi is expansive, whereas that of houguan carries strong nasal timbre. In the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, the types of guan in use are the keyed alto and keyed bass guans.
The guan plays an enriching role for the middle register in an orchestra. Representative solo pieces include Torrents of the River and Herding Donkeys.