The name Buyi refers to a commoner who wears cotton clothes. Formed in 1995, the ethnic rock band Buyi Band began their musical career in their homeland Ning Xia Autonomous Region in Northwest China. For five years, they remained a local band performing across the region, gaining a fervent local following. Currently based in Beijing, Buyi Band has been hailed as pure and emotional, combining traditional Chinese music with local folk music of Northwest China. In 2000 they released several singles from their self-titled debut album including “Fall,” “The Free Bird” and “A Place Called Sanshi Li Pu,” many of which feature traditional Chinese instruments such as the guzheng (a plucked zither). In 2004 Buyi Band had the great fortune to be interviewed by the BBC. The band continues to remain active and performs live on a regular basis.