Capital's festive spirit lasts all year round for art fans

Over the past decade, Beijing has become a global city, combining the best of Chinese and world cultures. Nowhere is this more evident than its festivals showcasing music, art and the written word.

With music, things start hotting up at the end of April with three major events: the Strawberry and Midi rock festivals and Ditan Park International Folk Festival.

Midi Festival in Haidian Park, which is organized by the Midi School of Music, is the granddaddy, showcasing Beijing's vibrant indie rock scene for more than a decade. As well as local favorites Miserable Faith and Brain Failure, last year's festival featured Chinese rap-metal group Chinese MC Brothers and Swedish pop rockers Sahara Hotnights.