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The Xiao  箫, a vertical bamboo flute, is also an ancient Chinese wind instrument usually thought to have developed from a simple end-blown flute.

The invention of Xiao  dates back to ancient times. Archaeological evidence shows that sound devices made of bones long existed 7,000 years ago. Such devices were made of limb bones of animals by removing marrow and making holes on the side. The device, 7 cm long with a radius of 6-8 mm, had 2 or 3 holes on the cambered surface which could make sound. Such device was considered the initial form of modern Xiao as its shape, structure and articulate mechanism was similar to today’s xiao.

The Xiao  is usually made of bamboo with a blowhole at the upper end. According to the number of "sound holes", it is divided into six-hole flute and eight-hole flute. The six-hole flute is the first five and the last one,  the eight-hole flute is the first seven and the last one.The eight-hole flute is the product of modern improvement.