Qinqiang ( 秦腔 ) or Luantan ( 乱弹 ) is the representative folk opera of the northwest Province of Shanxi ( 陕西 ), China, where it was called Qin thousands of years ago. Its melodies were originated from the rural areas of ancient Shanxi and Gansu ( 甘肃 ).

It uses Bangzi ( 梆子 ) as an instrument, as it is called Bangzi opera ( 梆子戏 ). Bangzi tune is the oldest, most affluent opera tune in China's Four Great Characteristic Melodies ( 四大声腔 ). Qinqiang is the representative of the Bangzi opera and the most important origin of other Bangzi operas.

There are 13 kinds of characters in Qinqiang

Four kinds of "Sheng" ( 生, male ): 老生, 须生, 小生, 幼生.

Six kinds of "Dan" ( 旦, female ): 老旦, 正旦, 小旦, 花旦, 武旦, 媒旦.

Two kinds of "Jing" ( 净, painted face male ): 大净, 毛净.

One kind of "Chou" ( 丑, Clown ), also knowns as " 13 Tou Wangzi" ( 十三头网子 ).