In 2006, it was honored as part of China's national intangible cultural heritage.

The name sixian, or silk strings, refers to traditional stringed instruments, like the pipa (Chinese lute), erhu (two-stringed fiddle), and sanxian (three-stringed lute), which intertwine delicate harmonies behind the rich storytelling.

Unlike formal conservatory training, Changde sixian is passed down through direct, oral instruction in the local dialect.

The songs usually narrate stories of nature, local folklore and people's everyday lives, with each melody resonating a haunting beauty and grace.