The shape of the Dong flute is similar to that of the dongxiao. The mouthpiece is equipped with reeds. It blows vertically. The tone is clear and melodious.

When playing, the flute body is placed vertically, the left index finger, middle finger, and ring finger press the three holes, and the right index finger, middle finger, and ring finger press the three holes, and the mouth contains a mouthpiece. The bamboo piece in the lower half of the whistle, excites the air column in the tube to vibrate, and presses the hole with fingers to make different sounds. The folk traditional Dong flutes have different tones due to different specifications. The more commonly used ones are F (range c1-f2), bE (range? bb-be2)) and D (range a-d2) three. .

The tone of the Dong flute is soft and bright, which is between the bamboo flute and the dongxiao. It is bright but not flashy, sweet but not depressed, and has a strong mountain flavor. The unique finger vibrato and portamento techniques are often used in the performance. Often used for solo, ensemble or accompaniment. However, due to the narrow range and low volume, it is generally only suitable for vocal accompaniment and simple solo performance.