Xiao

Xiao, 箫 in Chinese, is a vertical bamboo flute as a traditional wind instrument in China.
The early history of Xiao can be tracked back to 3000 years ago. In its early days, the Xiao was something of a panpipe consisting of 16 bamboo pipes. Today, the Xiao appear mostly in the form of a single flute, and easy to be made, it is rather popular among the Chinese.
The two earliest panpipes found in the tomb of Marquis of Zeng at Suixian County in Hubei Province in 1978, dating back to the Warring States Period, consist of 13 fine bamboo pipes each arrayed in progressively reducing lengths. The Xiao’s soft and graceful tones are ideal for solo and ensemble playing to express profound feelings in long-drawn, soft and sentimental melody.