In August 1969, over half a million people flocked to a farm in Bethel, New York to rock out to 32 acts including Jefferson Airplane, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Janis Joplin and many more. From that summer onwards, that festival – known to the world as Woodstock – became one of the most pivotal moments in music history. Meanwhile, in 1969 in China, the only music to be heard were national communist songs, while the fashion of the day was not t-shirts with peace signs and bell-bottoms, but blue or khaki military suits – nobody dared to embrace anything Western that could be deemed bourgeois.

China has come a long way since then and large-scale music festivals have become a staple in major cities for the greater part of a decade. However, music festivals in China get a lot of slack for last minute cancellations, unreliable line-ups, last-minute venue changes, over-presence of uniformed police, super early ending times, lack of alcohol and the list goes on…But despite these annoyances let’s just remember for a second that China doesn’t have four or five decades of music festival experience like the West. The scene is still in its infant stage so things are bound to loosen up with time. For now though, we recommend you leave the comparisons at home and just enjoy the music festivals around China as much as you can – 2013 is set to be a big festival year in the Mainland so we’ve rounded up some of the biggest festivals across the country this May and June.

Beijing
Shanghai
Guangzhou
Shenzhen
Chengdu
Kunming
Xi’an
Nanjing

2013 Beijing music festivals

1) 2013 China Music Valley – Beijing Midi Music Festival
When: Apr 29-May 1, 14:00-22:30
Where: Yuyang International Ski Resort (北京渔阳国际滑雪场)
How much: 100 RMB (pre-sale), 120 RMB (at door), 280 RMB (3-day pass – limited to 3000)
Tickets: http://www.damai.cn/ticket_48935.html
Stages: 5
Line-up: Hogan (Ireland), Manceau (France), Bubble Beatz (Switzerland), Emergency Gate (Germany), The Ghost Inside (USA), Nova Heart (China), Brain Failure (China), Miserble Faith (China), Longshendao (China), Subs (China) and many more…Click here for a full line-up.
Getting there: take bus No. 852 from Dongzhimen to Pinggu Yingbin Huandao stop (平谷迎宾环岛); from there, walk to the Pingu Dishuiju (平谷地税局站) bus stop and board the No. 48 bus to Yuyang International Ski Resort

2) 2013 Strawberry Music Festival
When: Apr 29-May 1, 10:30-21:30
Where: Tongzhou Canal Park (北京 通州区 通州运河公园)
How much: 120 RMB (pre-sale), 150 RMB (at door), 320 RMB (3-day pass), 400 RMB (3-day pass at door)
Tickets: http://www.douban.com/event/18438811/
Stages: 8
Line-up: Travis (UK), Deerhoof (USA), Immanu El (Sweden), Lenka (Australia), Pony Pony Run Run (France), Xie Tianxiao (China), New Pants (China), Queen Sea Big Shark (China), Second Hand Rose (China), Hedgehog (China), Re-Tros (China), Zakopower (Poland) etc. Click here for full line-up
Getting there: take bus No. 322, 324, 647, 667, 728, 804, or 808 to Dongguan Daqiao stop (东关大桥站)

3) Great Wall Music Festival
When: May 11, 14:00-23:30
Where: Juyongguan Great Wall (北京居庸关长城)
How much: 380 RMB (early bird), 480 RMB (presale), 580 RMB (at door)
Tickets: http://www.gettickets.cn/
Line-up: DJ Andy C, David Guetta, UFO (Ultra Funky Origins), Ouyang, Chill, DJ Kami, Mansun, Ghost, DJ Spark
Getting there: Music festival buses will take revelers directly to the festival site. Buses depart from Beijing Language University East Gate and Beijing Workers’ Stadium West Gate. Bus timetable and alternative transport info here.

4) Intro Electronic Music Festival
When: May 25, 14:00-23:30
Where: Crab Island Convention Center (蟹岛会展中心)
How much: 150 RMB (pre-sale until May 1), 200 RMB (pre-sale until May 23), 300 RMB (at door)
Tickets: http://sendmetickets.com 
Stages: 3
Line-up: The Syndicate, Mickey Zhang, Yang Bing, Ouyang, David K, Patrick Yu, Huang Weiwei etc.
Getting there: A round-trip shuttle bus will run every 45 minutes starting from 13:30 from Gongti North Gate and Wudaokao. For more info email intromusicfestival@gmail.com

Shanghai

1) 2013 Strawberry Music Festival
When: Apr 29-May 1, 10:30-21:30
Where: Shanghai Century Park (上海世博公园)
How much: 150 RMB (1 day ticket, presale), 320 RMB (3 day ticket, presale), 180 RMB (1 day ticket, at door), 380 RMB (3 day ticket, at door)
Tickets: http://www.228.com.cn/ticket-45022380.html?source=douban&ozs=45
Stages: 5
Line-up: Travis (UK), Deerhoof (USA), Immanu El (Sweden), Lenka (Australia), Pony Pony Run Run (France), Xie Tianxiao (China), New Pants (China), Queen Sea Big Shark (China), Second Hand Rose (China), Hedgehog (China), Re-Tros (China), Zakopower (Poland) etc. Click here for full line-up
Getting there: take subway line 8 to Zhonghua Yigong station, or the No. 1030 bus to Shibo Dadao Changqing Beili stop (在世博大道长清北路)

2) Shanghai Midi Music Festival
When: May 3-5, 17:00-21:30
Where: Shanghai Century Park上海浦东世纪公园
How much: 100 RMB (pre-sale), 120 RMB (at door), 280 RMB (3-day pass – limited to 3000)
Tickets: http://www.damai.cn/ticket_48126.html
Stages: 3
Line-up: Hogan (Ireland), Manceau (France), Bubble Beatz (Switzerland), Emergency Gate (Germany), The Ghost Inside (USA), Nova Heart (China), Brain Failure (China), Miserble Faith (China), Longshendao (China), Subs (China) and many more…Click here for a full line-up.

Shenzhen

1) Midi Music Festival
When: May 17-19
Where: Universiade Center (深圳龙岗大运中心)
How much: 100 RMB (1 day ticket,) 240 RMB (3 day ticket)
Tickets: http://www.douban.com/event/18584026/
Stages: 4
Line-up: Hogan (Ireland), Manceau (France), Bubble Beatz (Switzerland), Emergency Gate (Germany), Xie Tianxiao (China) and many more
Getting there: take No. bus 329 to Tiyu Xincheng stop (体育新城)

Guangzhou

1) South Fest
When: Apr 30
Where: Zhujiang Party Pier Beer Culture and Art Zone (广州市海珠区珠江琶提啤酒文化创意艺术区)
How much: 60 RMB (presale), 80 RMB (at door)
Tickets: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=0.0.0.0.hGWB9X&id=23898216411
Line-up: The festival will feature 25 of the finest rock bands from Guangdong and Fujian
Getting there: take bus No. 756 or 779 to Yuejiang Lu/Zhujiang Pijiuchang stop (阅江路总站/珠江啤酒厂站)

Chengdu

1) Zebra Music Festival
When: Apr 29-May 1, 14:00-23:30
Where: 198 Poly Park (保利198公园)
How much: 80 RMB (pre-sale), 100 RMB (at door)
Tickets: http://www.damai.cn/ticket_48651.html
Line-up: The Agency (France), Providence (France), The On Fires (Australia), Cold Cave (Sweden), Sydney Valette (France), SAARA Aalto (Finland), Proximity Butterfly (China), Mosaic (China) etc.
Getting there: Take bus No. 60, 110, 198, 665, 867 to 198 Poly Park

Xi’an

This June, two music festivals appear to be happening in Xi’an; however info for both is still on the vague side and official line-ups and ticket prices have yet to be announced.

1) Xi’an Strawberry Music Festival
When: June 1-2, 10:30-21:00
Where: Daming Palace Ruins Park (大明宫遗址公园)
How much: TBA
Line-up: Info is still on the fuzzy side but there are rumors that Chinese bands Hedgehog, Second Hand Rose and Traveler Band
Getting there:  take bus No. 2, 17, 22, 38, 46, 104, 209, 216, 263, 309, 409, 517, 703, k46 to Daminggong Guojia Yizhi Gongyuan (大明宫国家遗址公园)

2) Xi’an City Forest Music Festivals
When: June 11-12, 11:00-23:00
Where: Xi’an Municipal Sports Park (西安城市运动公园)
How much: 120 RMB (single day pre-sale), 240 RMB (2-day pre-sale), 150 RMB (single day at door), 300 RMB (2-day pass), 2013 RMB (VIP)
Tickets: http://www.damai.cn/ticket_47396.html
Stages: 2
Line-up: The official line-up was not announced at the time writing. However, a few band names have been announced including China’s Omnipotent Youth Hotel, Finland’s Frida Andersson and Australia’s Dune Rats.
Getting there: take bus No. 230, 238, 266, 318, 328, 509, 619, k228 etc. to Chengshi Yundong Gongyuan stop (城市运动公园)

Kunming

1) 2013 Dali Erhai World Music Festival
When: Apr 29-May 1
Where: Dali Quanmin Fitness Center Square (大理市全民健身中心广场)
How much: 150 RMB (single day), 300 RMB (3 day pass)
Tickets: http://www.damai.cn/ticket_48136.html
Line-up: Xu Wei, He Yong, Black Panther, Miserable Faith, Longshendao, Yaksa, Reflector, Brain Failure, Escape Plan, SMZB, Lure and more…
Getting there: For travel advice on how to get to Dali from Kunming click here

Nanjing

1) Changjiang International Music Festival
When: Apr 29-30, 14:00
Where: ​Changjiang Crab Island Culture Village (长江鹭岛文化村)
How much: 150 RMB/day
Tickets: http://www.t3.com.cn/ticket_-7254856776953088056.html
Stages: 2
Line-up: Jim Peterik (US), Lovesick Radio (US), The Sewer Rats (Germany), The Ordeal (Germany), Residence A, Nine Treasures, OOC, Dark Haze, Siwu, Miserable Faith, Mr. Turtle, Escape Plan, Glow Curve and many more Chinese acts
Getting there:  take the train from Nanjing to Zhenjiang. From the train station, take the K216 bus to Shiyezhou (世业洲) between 6:20-18:20 and get off at the final stop. There will also be a shuttle bus to the festival directly from the station (keep an eye out on the festival’s douban page for further updates)
 

Related links
Relaxing or Restricting? China’s Music Censors Confuse Yet Again
6 Good Chinese Bands You Should be Listening to
The Rise and Fall of Chinese Punk: A Legacy of Youth No Longer Silent

Warning：The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.

Keywords: music festivals in China Chinese music festivals 2013 china music festival guide