Chinese folk music, with strong nationalistic feature, is a treasure of Chinese culture.

As early as in the primitive times, Chinese began to use musical instruments, which evolved today into four main types, categorized by the way they are played.

• wind instrument, as shown in xiao - A vertical bamboo flute, suona horn, etc.
• string instrument, represented by urheen, jinghu - A two-string musical instrument,banhu fiddle, etc.
• string instrument, but played unconventionally by striking strings with fingers, represented by guzheng - A Chinese zither with 25 strings, guqin, pipa - A plucked string musical instrument, etc.
• percussion instrument, as seen usually in gong, drum, etc.

For centuries, Chinese musicians have created numerous excellent songs and lyrics, but, unfortunately, many were lost. The extant melodies include "The Ambush on All Sides", "Spring Snow", "Hundred Birds worshipping the Phoenix", "Guangling Verse", "Three Variations on Plum Blossom", "Spring River Moon Night", "The Moon Reflected over Two Ponds", "Rain Patterning at Plantain Leaves", "Higher Step by Step", "A Thunder in the Dry Season", etc. Those well-known melodies are often performed at home and abroad, and some have won international awards. "Hundred Birds worshipping the Phoenix", for example, won the second prize in the folk music contest, at the Fourth World Youth Festival.

Chinese love folk music for its unique charm. In China, almost every region has its own folk music troupes, some of which are self-organized by folk music fans. Chinese folk music troupes are often invited to perform internationally. In recent years, they have been invited to visit Vienna - the world music capital, and perform in the famous Golden Hall during Chinese Spring Festival. The pleasant melodies not only impress the local audiences, but also win international popularity.