Erhu (a two-string bowed fiddle) was first introduced during the Song Dynasty (960 to 1279 A.D.), It is an ancient instrument which is extremely popular in China today as a medium for both traditional and contemporary music. 

It was evolved from xiqin, the instrument of Xi Nationality who lived in the north of China, at ancient China, people resided in the central part of China usually called the various minorities of northern and western region as "Hu", thus borne the name "Huqin" (Hu's fiddle). Formally, the erhu was mostly used in the south area of the middle and lower reaches of Chang Jiang River. 

Throughout its 500 years old history, it has been constantly improved. Its tone now become mellow and bright. Erhu was mainly use as an accompanying instrument of the folk songs and local operas.  

Not until 1920s, for the first time, a celebrated musician Liu Tianhua played erhu as a solo instrument. So the erhu was upgraded to a solo instrument from thereafter.           

The instrument has 2 strings with the bow clasped between them. The thin and long neck ends in two pegs that are standing serially, not obstinate. The sound box is covered by a snake skin which gives the instrument its distinctive tone color.

As mention before, Erhu is also referred to as Huqin. It is a mid-high toned instrument whose mid-low tone sounds forceful, sad and lavish. And become clear, bright and cheerful when it plays in high tone. Because Erhu has a wide musical range (3 octaves), so it gives the instrument tremendous tonal flexibility and powerful expression, to voice the temperaments and feelings of human.