Westernization of Chinese traditional music occupies a significant portion of Chinese music history and has had a tremendous influence on Chinese contemporary music. This dissertation will discuss why almost all contemporary Chinese music has been integrated with Western musical elements. It will also address the evolution of Chinese music, the differences between traditional Chinese music and contemporary Chinese music, the way contemporary Chinese music combines Chinese traditional music with Western music, Chinese peoples’ views towards Chinese traditional music and contemporary music, and the significance of the above with respect to the preservation of Chinese culture and cultural diversity in the world.