In sharp contrast to other Chinese art forms that are usually gentle and honest, Laoqiang is bold and unrestrained. The aria of the lead singer is rich and masculine. The vocal accompaniment usually features wild battle cries and roars to imitate the sounds of war. Listening to a Laoqiang performance, one may feel to have gone back in time to an ancient battlefield, hearing the strikes of swords on shields.

During the Ming (1368-1644AD) and Qing (1644-1911AD) dynasties, there were a dozen Laoqiang troupes in Huanyin County who performed not only in Shaanxi, but also neighbouring provinces like Shanxi and Henan. Historically, the art form was passed down from father to son, excluding women, which somewhat hindered its development. Today, there are only 12 performers of the art form altogether. The youngest is 50, and the oldest, 72. Local governments have made tremendous efforts to revive and publicize Laoqiang, and many renowned artists in other areas joined to save the art form.

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