Nanyin is one of the oldest existing musical genres in China and is dubbed "the living fossil of Chinese musical history."

When people migrated from the central plains to Fujian during Han, Jin, Tang and Song Dynasties, they brought their music to Jinjiang basin, which was later combined with indigenous music and formed Nanyin.

Nanyin features singing by the singer playing clapper, accompanied by string instruments and flutes.

During indoor performances, the lute and Sanxian (a three-stringed plucked instrument) players sit on the right, Dongxiao (a vertical flute) and Erxian (a two-stringed vertical instrument) on the left, and the singer with clapper in the middle. During outdoor performances, lute and Sanxian players switch to the left, and Dongxiao and Erxian to the right, the singer stays in the middle.

Nanyin repertory falls into three overlapping styles, called chí, phó and khiok (commonly known as zhǐ, pǔ and qǔ in Chinese). It comprises of both vocal and instrumental styles. Over 2,000 pieces or sets of Nanyin songs exist today, constituting a complete and diverse musical system.