The Yellow River battle drum is located in Shuanghe village in Baiyin district of Baiyin city, Gansu province, near Jianjin Mountains and the Yellow River.

The terrain made the area an important military station in ancient times and local records show that the battle drum was brought in by an army which was garrisoned near the Yellow River from 1465 to 1487. It was used as a sort of guide during battle attacks or pullouts from the 14th to the 19th century.

As this type of warfare ended, the drum became a folk musical instrument.