Five international composers - Kalevi Aho, Michael Gordon, Robin Holloway, Augusta Read Thomas and Sebastian Currier -are touring the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and the provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou from Sept 11 to 23 to learn about China's natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Commissioned by the National Center for the Performing Arts of China (NCPA) and a number of other international organizations, they will compose musical works after being inspired by their trip to China. The works are due in August 2012 and will be performed at two concerts, titled Composing China in October 2012 at NCPA.

Since its founding in 2007, the center has commissioned music works from a number of Chinese composers, such as Ye Xiaogang and Guo Wenjing. Composing China is an effort by the center to build an international repertory themed on China.