The five-month flute is a musical instrument called Pai Yao, a branch of the Yao ethnic group. Yao language means cutting bamboo to make flute and blowing flute in May, hence the name.

The Wuyuexiao has a long history. In the book "Responding to Lingwai" (Volume Seven Musical Instruments Gate) written by Zhou Qufei in the Southern Song Dynasty, there are records about Yao nationality musical instruments: "The flute, the rhyme is like the flute,..." The flute here , probably today's May flute.

In the annual Yao Nationality's grandest song and dance festival, the Song and Dance Hall (also known as the Panwang Festival), various musical instruments are played in turn, and musicians from each village also perform with the May flute.