The nanbangzi is commonly used in Southern Chinese local opera. It is made of rectangular pieces of wood and can be found in versions of high, mid and low pitches.
The beibangzi consists of two slats – one thick and one thin – of rosewood beaters, and is sometimes known as the shuangjimu. A sound is made when the two slats are hit against each other. The instrument is found in folk percussion ensembles of the Henan, Hebei and Shandong regions. It is usually used to play continuous strong beats.