Shifan music derives its name from the ensemble's use of 10 traditional instruments crafted from silk, bamboo, hide, wood and metal.

Huangshi Huiyang Shifan music has a profound legacy, originating primarily in Putian, Fujian province and the neighboring Puxian dialect-speaking regions like Fuqing and Hui'an counties.

It later spread to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as to overseas Chinese communities in Singapore, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries with Puxian descendants. This distinctive musical tradition took shape during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) , reaching its zenith in the late Qing and early Republic of China (1911-49) era.

A Huangshi Huiyang Shifan music ensemble typically comprises 10 to 12 musicians, producing a distinctive blend of sweet timbres and lively rhythms. This unique art form harmoniously combines the delicate elegance characteristic of Jiangnan music with the robust vitality of northern Chinese musical traditions.

Primarily performed during temple consecrations, weddings, longevity celebrations and other folk rituals, Huiyang Shifan music demonstrates polyphonic richness and cultural syncretism, reflecting its significant artistic value as an intangible cultural heritage.