Xiao Mo is the practical mid-tier mini of the Xiaozheng series, in a quiet colourway, for adult amateurs practising at home and for impromptu playing in an office or tea room.
The structure matches the series mid-tier, with emphasis on tuning retention after long periods of sitting idle: tuning pin and string-nut seating receive dedicated adjustment.
The voice is gentle and un-showy, comfortable for long sessions at home. Playing a piece whenever the mood strikes is exactly how these instruments are used.
Impromptu use invites casual storage. Keep a fixed place for it — leaning it on the sofa where someone may sit down is an easy way to damage the top.
For sizing and where a small guzheng fits, see choosing the right guzheng size.
Buying advice: this model is listed at CNY 6800, which is a higher price in the range of the 9 models in the Mini guzheng series (prices run CNY 4000 to CNY 18000).1-Metre Carved Guzheng (CNY 18000) is the next step up and is worth comparing if your budget is close. To keep the budget down, start from Glazed Glass (CNY 5980). Big Fish & Begonia sits at the same price with a different look and voicing — pick on taste. Bulk pricing is explained in How to order.
FAQ: Can a student alternate between a mini and a standard instrument? Yes, but choose a mini whose string positions and fingering stay close to a standard guzheng, or the change of action will interrupt their progress. For performance goals, keep the standard instrument primary.
Suitable for: the mini guzheng suits a child’s first lessons, a beginner’s start and travel playing — light, portable and good for practice in limited space. For a child’s instrument or a portable setup, tell us your scenario through the enquiry form and we will help you pick a size.
The tuning pins are set just right, neither loose nor stiff. The tone overall is on the warm side, rather than bright, which I prefer, I would recommend it!
It feels very solid overall, and it does not shift even when you play hard, the manual is too basic, so I learned to tune from a video.
I compared several sellers, and went with this one, the colour is a shade darker than the photos, but it feels better made, five stars.
I read through the reviews before buying, and it was not a mistake. The strings feel a little soft under the fingers, so a child can press them without strain!
Easy to take out to performances, it goes straight in the boot, the low register is full, and Fisherman's Song at Dusk sounds wonderful on it, the edges are finished very cleanly, with no rough spots, worth the price!
Bought it for my child to start on, and the size is just right. The bridges are smoothed off nicely, and do not catch your hand when you shift position, very happy overall!
This is my second purchase here, and the feel is just as I remembered, the tuning holds very steadily, two months of playing and it has barely drifted, the grain on the soundboard looks natural, the finish is thin, and you can tell it was applied by hand. Worth the price.
It looks even better made in person than in the photos, you can see the details far more clearly. It came in a wooden crate packed with thick foam, five days in transit and not a single knock, this much workmanship at this price, there is nothing to find fault with. Very happy overall!
I hesitated for a long time, and ordered during a promotion, customer service even showed me how to tune it, so I was not nervous picking it up for the first time. At this price it holds its own against anything, there is a slight difference between the colour and the website, but it is acceptable!
Compared with my last one, the difference was obvious straight away, they sent me a video of the actual instrument before shipping, which put my mind at rest, the crate was very large, and I could not move it on my own, very happy overall!