Some might say that classical music belongs in the concert hall. However, a young symphony orchestra in China is changing this perception.

On Thursday, Xi'an Symphony Orchestra (XSO) completed their performance in a mountainous area where teas were planted in Mianxian County, Hanzhong City. It was part of the orchestra's concert tour named "When XSO Meets Qinling," which was designed in accordance to the natural landscape of the Niubeiliang National Forest Park in Shaanxi Province.

The concerts were broadcast live to the audience via the internet, part of the orchestra's plan to get online and move closer to young people as the COVID-19 pandemic halted the live performances during the first few months of the year.

"In the past, we were used to the applause from the auditorium after the concert, while the online concerts are quiet. But when we saw the comments on the bullet screen, we had these fresh and special feelings," said Zhuang Shen, violist with the XSO.

The XSO was formed in 2012, and the average age of the members is below 30, making them very young among the professional orchestras of China. Therefore, getting closer to the younger generation has become a goal of the XSO.

This year, with live performances canceled or postponed during the pandemic, the orchestra held their first online concert on March 27, 2020 and it was a huge success.

"Not many people have tried to understand classical music, and that's why they believe it is high-profile and far removed from life. With the online concert and the bullet screen, we hope that everyone can get to know how easygoing classical music can be. No matter if one understands it, they can still appreciate it," said Zhou Huyi, chief violinist of the XSO.

Since then, the XSO has held concerts at various locations, including the Shaanxi History Museum, Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, Xi'an Beilin Museum, the City Wall, Huashan Mountain and Qinling Mountain... either close to the cultural relics such as the Terracotta Warriors, or the landscape.

The live performances have at least 23 million viewers online, which paved the way for the XSO to get close to the young people.

According to Cao Jiwen, brand director of the XSO, moving live concerts online, it requires some "stunts" aside from music to attract the young people, but now they are breaking a wall that had been separating the classical music and the youth.

"Xi'an is a city full of tradition and art. An energetic orchestra or troupe may help to bring the vitality to its ancient culture and make it active again," said Cao.