This transverse bamboo flute has a blowing hole, a stop hole and six finger holes. The two holes furthest from the player and fundamental tone holes and next to them are two auxiliary tone holes. Its range is two and a half octaves. During the blossoming of the art of opera in the late Ming (1368-1644) and early Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, Dizi was adopted as an accompanying instrument for various kinds of stage dramas.

A large number of techniques are used when playing these wind instruments, such as tapping, appoggiatura, tremolo, legato, flower tongue, augment, glide, trill, overtone and prong. Famous Dizi tunes include The Golden Trembling Willows, Audience With the Emperor, Joyous Meeting, Five Clappers, The Partridge Soars, The Bird in the Shade, and Scenic Suzhou.