Liuqin is a high pitch-plucking instrument. The name "Liuqin" comes from the fact that the instrument is made of willow wood and shaped like a willow leaf ("Liu" in Chinese means willow).

The early version of Liuqin had only two strings and can play only one and a half octaves. During the Tang dynasty, the Liuqin only had 3 strings. It used to be an accompanying instrument in the Liuqin-xi, a local opera. In Modern China, improvements were made on the instrument, and a two string Liuqin became a three string Liuqin tuned to D, G, D or D, A, D. In the 1970s, the four string Liuqin was developed, with the instrument body enlarged. It is tuned to G, D, G, D which is the standard instrument used in orchestra. In 1975, five string medium pitch Liuqin was developed with its strings tuned to A, D, A, D, A. Crisp and bright, the liuqin is the highest-pitched member of the plucked strings but its volume is small. Its tone is bright and clear and is extremely beautiful in performing solos. Liuqin can cut right through the heaviest sound the orchestra can make. It is also frequently features in cadenzas.