Liu Li is the mid-tier model of the Xiaozheng series, with a glaze-inspired finish, for younger players with a taste for individuality and for creators who film.
Standard Xiaozheng assembly with extra finishing work: the lacquer effect is confirmed instrument by instrument at the finishing stage so it looks consistent on camera.
The voice is clear with its own character, and needs no sweetening for video; the natural agility of the mini format comes through well here.
Video shoots mean repeated repositioning under lights. Prolonged lamp heat warms parts of the body — switch the lights off afterwards and let the instrument return to room temperature.
For sizing and where a small guzheng fits, see choosing the right guzheng size.
Buying advice: this model is listed at CNY 5980, which is a higher price in the range of the 9 models in the Mini guzheng series (prices run CNY 4000 to CNY 18000).Dawn Ink (CNY 6800) is the next step up and is worth comparing if your budget is close. To keep the budget down, start from Colourful Butterfly (CNY 5660). 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 colour is a shade darker than the photos, but it feels better made. The tone overall is on the warm side, rather than bright, which I prefer, it costs a little more than comparable instruments, but the workmanship really is different, I'd buy again!
I had been watching this shop for a long time, and finally ordered, a friend heard it at my place, and asked where I bought it, it came in a wooden crate packed with thick foam, five days in transit and not a single knock, there is a slight difference between the colour and the website, but it is acceptable. Very happy overall.
I mainly wanted it because it is small, and it fits at home, customer service was very patient, and answered every question one by one. The low register is full, and Fisherman's Song at Dusk sounds wonderful on it, I'll be back.
Easy to take out to performances, it goes straight in the boot. It lives in the teaching room, where students take turns on it, and it takes the wear, the harmonics ring out clearly, and come out with the lightest touch, I would recommend it!
Bought it for my child to start on, and the size is just right. Customer service even showed me how to tune it, so I was not nervous picking it up for the first time!
I hesitated for a long time, and ordered during a promotion, 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.
My child practises an hour a day, and likes it more the more she plays, the bridges are smoothed off nicely, and do not catch your hand when you shift position, this much workmanship at this price, there is nothing to find fault with, very happy with it!
I compared several sellers, and went with this one, it feels very solid overall, and it does not shift even when you play hard. Compared with my last one, the difference was obvious straight away, at this price it holds its own against anything, I would recommend it.
This is my second purchase here, and the feel is just as I remembered. I took it to a lesson, and my teacher said the tone was good too, the tuning holds very steadily, two months of playing and it has barely drifted, the manual is too basic, so I learned to tune from a video.
After-sales rang me to check it had arrived, which is rare, it drifted quite often at first, and took three tunings to settle. Worth the price.