The xiao, a longitudinal flute, has been said to have originated from Xi Qiang (present day Gansu) during the Han Dynasty.  It was called a qiangdi then and had four playing holes.

Around 77 BC to 37 BC, a fifth hole was added at the qiangdi’s tail end.

By AD 247, the qiangdi had appeared with six playing holes.  This instrument is similar to the present day xiao.

Xiao, otherwise known as dongxiao, is made of wood and is blown vertically.  It has eight keys and is commonly used in the orchestra.

The volume of the xiao is soft and it does not have a great range of dynamics.  Its sound quality is sweet and tranquil.  The xiao is occasionally used for solos and is most often played in a duo with the qixianqin (seven stringed zither), the pipa, the ruan or the erhu.  Xiao music is characteristically gentle, silent and peaceful.        

The technique involved in playing the xiao is basically the same as the bangdi and the qudi, but the instrument is less flexible and requires more skill for techniques that can be produced on other dizi.