The unique shape of the Xuanqin looks like both a guqin and a guzheng. The sound box is in the shape of a flat rectangular box with a total length of 167 cm.

The frame and bottom plate of the Xuanqin are made of chestnut wood, which is covered with a paulownia arch panel.

At one end of the head, there are string holes for passing the strings and Yueshan for mounting the strings, and three rectangular sound holes are opened on the bottom plate.

There are six silk strings on the panel. Below the third, fourth, and fifth strings in the middle, there are 16 fixed bridges (also known as trees). The bridges near the head are shorter and gradually higher.

Below the first, second, and sixth strings on both sides, there is a movable qin column (also called a qin tree) that is similar to the zither column.