Singing without the accompaniment of instruments is nothing new to China. Famous singers such as Gao Xiaosong and Gu Feng sang a cappella when they were young. But the style's been limited to a NICHE MARKET in China until recently. With the auditory appetite for a cappella on the rise internationally, Chinese a cappella singers are also gaining popularity at home.

In China, the development of a cappella accelerated after the year 2000. The first major group in the genre, named "New Voice" was formed in 2005. They were the first band in the country to master the skill of mimicking certain instruments and sounds with voices to create a veritable vocal orchestra. Now, with a new name "Dazzle Voice", the group is still one of the most active a cappella performers in China.

There are over 200 a cappella groups in China today. More groups are not content with performing western classics, but exploring new territories by fusing Chinese music elements with a cappella.

While some of the groups are formed by professional musicians, many others are made up of amateurs and college students. Peking University set up its own a cappella student society in 2009, the first campus society dedicated to training a cappella singers and promoting the music style.

For the past nine years, the society has compiled campus songs popular with college students and some have become internet hits. Every year, a memorial concert is staged to tell the organization's story.

In 2009, Vocal Asia, a platform that unites Asian a cappella musicians and fans, began promoting a cappella in the Chinese mainland. And two years later in 2011, Vocal Asia hosted China's first a cappella music camp and national competition. Since then, every year the event brings top a cappella groups from around the world to inspire and entertain the Shanghai audience. And the most talented and promising a cappella groups in China are recognized.