I you are interested in cross cultural music, sample some of the Silk Road Ensemble recordings. The artists involved are amazing musicians. The group was originally formed by Yo Yo Ma, and it brings together music from Japan, China, the Middle East, North Africa, Spain, and pretty much the whole world.
I also really like a recording of children's lullabies from around the world called "The Planet Sleeps."
I have about a dozen Chinese traditional and modern classical music recordings and I realize I have just scratched the surface. This is an interesting thread that points to more alternatives.
I also note that some of the suggestions were for Japanese Koto and Shakuhachi flute music. To those suggestions, I would add a piece by Somei Satoh called "Birds in Warped Time II." It is a modern, minimalist piece for violin and piano where the violin sort of sounds like a Shakuhachi.