CHANGSHA -- An international country music festival will be held from September 10 to 16 in Zhangjiajie, a well-known tourist city in central China's Hunan Province.

Managers of scenic areas in the city of Zhangjiajie said on Monday that 39 bands from both home and abroad will play in several spots around the city, including its Huanglongdong Square and Tianzi Mountain, as part of a weeklong celebration of country music.

The event will draw 31 bands from 26 foreign nations and regions, while another 8 bands are composed of ethnic Chinese.

The country music festival aims to promote the development of different cultures from all over the world by uniting country musicians from different areas, according to the managers of the Zhangjiajie scenic areas.

The city's first international country music festival was held in May 2009. It was regarded by locals as a milestone in connecting the development of tourism and culture.

"Efforts should be made to turn the international country music festival into a regular one and to develop Zhangjiajie into an international hot spot for country music," said Ye Wenzhi,the chief organizer of the festival.