In recent years, the Chinese Orchestra has adopted, among other western percussion instruments, the timpani, glockenspiel, xylophone, vibraphone and snare drum for use in its ensemble.

Chinese percussion instruments are usually made of:

1. Wood: e.g. zhuban (bamboo clogs), muyu (temple blocks)
2. Skin: e.g. dagu (Chinese bass drum)
3. Stone: e.g. qing (ancient chimes)
4. Metal: e.g. luo (gongs), bo (cymbals)

Based on sound and performance technique, one can categorise percussion instruments into the following genres:

1. Ban lei (board category): e.g. Chinese claves, temple blocks
2. Gu lei (drum category): e.g. Chinese bass drum, timpani, Chinese tom toms
3. Bo lei (cymbal category): e.g. bells, xiaobo (small cymbals)
4. Luo lei (gong category): e.g. pitched gongs, xiaoluo (small gongs) etc.

Percussion instruments can also be categorised according to definite pitch or indefinite pitch:

1. Definite pitch instruments include yunluo (pitched gongs) and bianzhong (bronze bells);
2. Indefinite pitch instruments are usually sub-categorised into instruments of high, middle or low-pitch because of their indefinite values.
   1. High-pitched instruments include temple blocks and pengling (bells);
   2. Mid-pitched instruments include jingluo (opera gongs), jingbo (opera cymbals) and paigu (Chinese tom toms);
   3. Low-pitched instruments include dagu (Chinese bass drum).