Erhu (Two Stringed Violin) This is one of the most widely used bowed instruments in China. It represents a type of huqin constructed of various hardwoods with the soundbox covered by snake skin. The top of the neck is frequently carved, often in the form of a dragon head. The erhu has undergone a number of modifications during its 500 year history, so that its tone is both mellow and bright, making it popular for both solo and orchestral performances.

Ruan (moon-shaped short-necked lute) It was once termed as qin pipa (dating to the Qin dynasty between 221-207 BC) or yueqin (moon-shaped short-necked lute). The name is a shortened form of Ruan Xian, a musician and one of the "seven Sages of Bamboo Grove" of the 3rd century (the Six Dynasties). Pictorial evidence, excavated from a tomb of his time in Nanjing, depicting Ruan Xian's performance of this instrument, confirms that its construction was roughly the same as that of today.

Sanxian (three-string lute) The name appears popularly as xianzi. Its ancestor is said to be a lucked string instrument xiantao (a type from a rattle drum), commonly seen among the ancient people. The modern type has a resonator pf padauk or red sadal, coverred on both sides with python skin. Its fretless neck functions as the fingerboard. Performers pluck with fingernails, generally without any plecttrum.