This lively piece is among Johann Strauss I's earliest compositions. As one might discern from its title, it exploits an ethnic style, like several other dance pieces in his output, including the Spanish-flavored pair Cachucha-Galopp and Gitana-Galopp, as well as the Hungarian-tinged Ungarische Galopp oder Frischka. Some listeners hear an exoticism in the Chineser-Galopp, but while it certainly exudes far-East flavors at times, it more often sounds Eastern-European in its themes and instrumentation, imparting a character closer to gypsy styles than to strains of traditional Chinese music. This delightful work presents a lively, chipper theme played by piccolo and strings. The melodic material comes in short bursts, with many deftly wrought instrumental exchanges where one orchestral player or group of players bat thematic bits or phrases back and forth with another at a frantic pace. Most of the banter is in the upper ranges, with the piccolo being the chief instigator of the sonic mischief. The piece is short, having a duration of only a minute-and-a-half or so, but within its brief span, it packs a kaleidoscopic range of breathlessly joyous and colorful music.

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