BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Classical music attracts more young Chinese nowadays as it becomes common for parents to introduce their children to music, the China Daily reported Monday.

The National Center for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing has attracted performances by a long list of top international artists and symphony orchestras since it was opened in the end of 2007, according to the newspaper.

More than 9,600 performances have been staged at the venue in the past decade or so, and more than 900 were held there in 2018 alone.

At a time when most opera houses around the world are cutting their budgets, the NCPA has staged its own operatic productions, and holds an annual festival at which dozens of offerings from overseas are performed, the newspaper said.

In a new drive to reach younger audiences in China, the NCPA has also launched free online broadcasting.

Chen Guangxian, director of the China Symphony Development Foundation, a nonprofit organization, was quoted as saying that the number of symphony orchestras in China has risen in recent years.

There were about 30 professional orchestras four years ago, but by last year the figure had risen to 82, presenting opportunities not only for young Chinese musicians but also for those from around the world, the newspaper said.

To change the way in which young people experience classical music concerts, symphony orchestras are also trying to break with convention by offering easy-to-listen programs.