Indie music flourish in the capital

Beijing-based indie rock band 16 Mins. Photo provided to China Daily

The first band she joined in Beijing was Tripazia with a vocal artist from Xi'an, Shaanxi province. Lebel was amazed by the artist's ability to improvise. In 2008, she started to play with a folk band from the Ningxia autonomous region, led by songwriter Li Xia, who inspired her with northwestern China's folk music.

"The music scene in Beijing is more than alive. There are great bands playing every night and great venues who care about music and musicians. I think that musicians around the world are now spreading the news that something is happening in China," she says.

Tong Tong, a 27-year-old musician from Germany, also discovered that Beijing is a great place to pursue his musical ambitions.

In 2006, Tong saw the documentary Beijing Bubbles, a portrait of the punk and rock scene in the capital made by German directors George Lindt and Susanne Messmer. Tong says he felt instantly connected to Beijing's music scene.

Hoping the city would give young bands opportunities to establish themselves, Tong arrived in Beijing two years ago and found the city even more energetic than depicted in the documentary.

"There are so many bands and authentic venues. A strong network has been built between the musicians," he says.

In late 2014, as percussionist, keyboard player and bassist, Tong joined Beijing-based indie rock band 16 Mins, which is composed of lead vocalist Jiao Siyu and guitarist Robin Liu from New Zealand.