Flute is highly popular with the Chinese people. Due to the natural makings of bamboo, it is also called zhudi, which may be literally translated into bamboo flute.

The gnarls in the long bamboo pipe have been got rid off. There are one blowing hole, one affiliated hole and six sound holes. The blowing hole is the first hole of the flute, where the air is blew in and then produces sounds. Next is the affiliated hole, which is covered by the membrane of the bamboo or bulrush. The air makes the membrane vibrate, which can produce clear and smooth tones.

Although the structure of the flute is very simple, it has a history of seven thousand years. About four thousand and five hundred years ago, designers began to make flute with bamboo instead of bone. During the governance of the second emperor of the Han Dynasty at the 1 century BC, flute was also called hengchui, which may be literally translated into English as blowing horizontally. From the seventh century on, the hole covered by membrane had been added. Then with the development of free verse of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and the music of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), flute had become the main part of the accompaniment. It was also indispensable in the folk and ethnic dramas.

Flute is rich in performing skills. Not only can it play the loud and sonorous tunes, but also the cheerful dancing music and the peaceful ditty. In addition, it can imitate various sounds in the nature such as the twittering of birds.

There are many kinds of flutes, such as those with seven or eleven holes, and those with keys. They are divided into two groups according to their different styles. Qudi, another kind of flute, which is popular mainly in the southern part of the Yangtse River, represents the southern group, which sounds clear and elegant. In contrast to the southern group, the northern style is rough and powerful. It is popular mostly in the northern China.