Yesterday, February 3, Chinese people around the world celebrated the Year of the Rabbit, and Starbucks, which has been present in China since 1998, just couldn’t miss the opportunity to congratulate its fans on the colorful and boisterous holiday. The brand released a compilation of eastern music titled ‘World Is China’ as a precious gift to those who adore the eastern culture. The set comes as a valuable addition the globally-themed collection started by ‘World Is Africa’ and ‘World Is India’ CDs, which represent a diverse selection of recordings by several generations of local music artists.

Photo: Starbucks Store

Starting 1997, the international coffee retailer has been inviting people to embark on an audio-trip to different parts of the world. By releasing music tracks compilations aimed at “presenting an introduction to a certain country or continent’s music,” the brand provided a deer insight into various cultures through melodies which encompass. So far, Starbucks has also paid tribute to African (Africaffé), Cuban (Café Cubana, Más Café Cubana), and Italian (Ciao Amore!, Bella Luna) cultures, as well as the Parisian spirit (Rendezvous à Paris, Paris Magnifique) with sets of sublime songs, encompassing the nature of these lands and areas.

The new compilation of 16 tracks is “a blend that spanned from the 1940s to the present,” as Hear Music/Starbucks Entertainment’s editorial manager David Legry described it his post on the company’s website. “Contemporary and vintage recordings that displayed the diversity of China and encompassed a broad range of classic Chinese pop, Beijing opera, hip-hop and electronica East-meets-West selections from Mainland China and Taiwan and Hong Kong,” he continued. Legry also confessed that he was greatly inspired by Jia Zhangke’s ‘Still Life’ (2006), a Beijing indie rock showcase he saw at the 2010 South By Southwest Music Festival, as well as a range of other modern and vintage recordings. He also promised that someday he will “get a shot at a sequel and can finally give a slot to a runner up song choice that didn’t quite make the cut.”

The ‘World is China’ album with a cover created by Starbucks’ designer Amy L. (her name is shortened to the first letter in the announcement) is already available at $12.95.