Quyi refers to folk vocal art forms such as ballad singing , story-telling , comic dialogue , clapper talk and crosstalk.As an ancient performing art in China, quyi is a general term that covers several different types of performances in which speech, singing or both are used.

Stone sculpture unearthed in Sichuang Province shows that the art existed early in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). As an independent art, it was formed in the middle Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Song Dynasty. Now more than 300 forms of quyi are popular among all ethnic groups throughout the country.

Deeply rooted in China, the art is divided into three style categories and subdivided into 400 parts the three major styles are story-telling, story-singing, and joke-telling.Story-telling can be either words alone, or words accompanied by music. One of the most representative non-music styles in the North is called Pingshu ; the same style in the South is called Pinghua .

The most important form of joke-telling is Xiang sheng, or crosstalk, the comic dialogue of Northern China, which in the South is called Huaji , comic words in Chinese.Story-singing seems to have the largest sub-group. Each style has a strong local flavor in either its accent or music.

The major categories are as follows:

Beijing Qinshu - This form of ballad-singing originated with farmers who liked to sing stories in their spare time. No professionals practised the art until the mid-19th century. The singing is usually accompanied by dulcimer, but now sanxian, and sihu are sometimes added. The art is popular in Beijing and Tianjin.

Errenzhuan - Also known as Bengbeng, this is a very popular art in Northeastern China. It is said to date from the early 19th century. The art is often performed by two persons, a man and a woman. It, which contains speaking, singing, playing, and dancing, is a walk-and-sing type of musical art. It is characterized by its humorous and strong local accent of the Northeastern China.

Danxian - In this art one person sings while playing sanxian, a three-stringed plucked instrument. It is very popular in the north. The art is performed in two styles. In one, the singer is accompanied by a second person playing sanxian. In the other, one person sings and plays by himself.

Dongbei Dagu - It is said that a ballad singer from Beijing brought this form of ballad-singing to Northeastern China during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is generally sung by one person who beats time to the accompaniment of sanxian played by a second person on stage.

Dujiaoxi - Also known as "comic play," this form of art is popular around Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. It is originated in about 1920. Generally it is played by less than three persons, and combines singing, talking, performance and oral skills similar to those used in crosstalk.

Henan Zhuizi - This form of ballad-singing is popular in Henan Province, where it was formerly called Daoqing and Yinggeliu. It has borrowed much from other folk arts like Shandong Dagu, Sanxianshu and Qinshu. Growing from a local art, it first spread to Beijing, Tianjing and Shanghai in the 1920s, and gradually became one of the most popular arts throughout the country.

Jingyun Dagu - This form of ballad-singing grew from a folk art called Muban Dagu) in Cangzhou and Hebei. It is now popular in Northeastern China and Hebei Province. Its repertoire is comprised of short stories that can be completed in about two hours.

Laoting Dagu - This ballad-singing art, popular in Hebei Province, originated in Hebei's Leting County where locals are said to be good at singing. Its repertoire includes many classical Chinese literature works like "Journey to the West."

Meihua Dagu - This is a ballad singing art popular in Beijing and Tianjin. It is also known as Qingkou Dagu, and Meihua Diao. It originated in Beijing during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Nanyin - Also known as Nanqu, Nanguan, Nanyue, and Xianguan, this ballad-singing art is popular in Fujian, Taiwan and Southeastern Asia.

Crosstalk - Xiangsheng, is a language art combining four basic techniques: speech, mimicry, comedy and song. Xiangsheng can be performed by one person or more, but the most common form is two people. Crosstalk performers try to use funny conversations to make the audience laugh.

Quyi has a wide mass basis and a strongly Chinese flavor. Many excellent quyi items reflect the Chinese people's thought, ideals and moral aspirations; many works sing the praises of national heroes, honest officials, and faithful lovers.