By emission and atomic absorption spectrochemical analysis, metallographical and hardness examination, x-ray diffraction analysis, and measurement of audio frequency and thickness for Chinese gongs and cymbals, it is shown that the material used for Chinese gongs and cymbals is bronze with 23% tin, physical and chemical properties of which are suitable for making copper percussion instruments. The temperature for hot-forging ranges from 700° to 500°C, and 700°C for quenching, selection of which is based on the principles of mechanics and heat treatment. The microstructure of bronze gongs and cymbals after being forged and quenched consists of alpha solid solution of tin in copper, in a matrix of quenched beta phase (beta' martensite), beta' has ductility, suitable for adjusting tone by cold hammering and subsequent utilization. Hot forging and cold hammering improve mechanical properties of high-tin bronze, giving good influence on the tone of bronze gongs and cymbals and the frequency of their vibrations. According to information obtained in a gong making factory in Hebei province, the thickness of a gong varies regularly from the center to the edge, and the radius is different for different kinds of gongs and cymbals, so the tone of gongs and cymbals is changed with changing thickness and radius.