Laohu (pinyin: shù kōng hóu) is similar to today's bass banhu, and is responsible for playing the main tone of the melody.

The appearance of Laohu is in the shape of a wooden drum, about 13 cm long and 10 cm in diameter, and is covered with a panel made of paulownia wood with a thickness of about 4 mm at one end. The harp is made of wood and is about 50 cm long. The way of playing is similar to the second handle. And the left hand also carries a steel finger cuff. Lao Hu Hu's tuning is sol and do, which is the lowest range of the three instruments.