Liuqin is a high pitch plucking instrument. Its shape and structure is similar to that of Pipa, except that it is smaller and uses plastic pick rather than finger nails to play. Its tone is bright and clear and is extremely beautiful in performing solos.

The early version of Liuqin had only two strings and can play only one and a half octaves. 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.