Jiangnan Sizhu, one of the traditional Chinese stringed and woodwind instruments, is popular in south of the Yangtze River. In the past, there used to be more than one Jiangnan Sizhu band in every large-scale market town or area in this region. Such band is also called "voice bands" or "national music clubs." It is also a common practice for rural residents to hire a Jiangnan Sizhu band for weddings and funerals.

In the 1920s, Jiangnan Sizhu spread to Shanghai, and gradually formed two styles: one being lively and festive and another being highbrow and elegant. The two styles blended perfectly together in Dachang, which is located at the urban-rural junction of Shanghai.

With a long history, the Dachang Xinhua Folk Music Band was founded by Zhu Gui (1925), a native in Dachange. Around 1950, a folk music master Zhang Zhongxiang joined the band. He was proficient in almost all kinds of traditional Chinese instruments. Under his leadership, the band’s performance skills have been brought to a new level, and dozens of folk music ensembles have been retained, including its representative works like "Hundred Flowers Striving for Beauty" and "Spring Breeze in the Field". The band participated in many events held by the city and above, performing on the same stage with various professional Jiangnan Sizhu bands from home and abroad, and won Outstanding Performance Award and Outstanding Creation Award.