Chinese 'Glastonbury' rocks grassland, brings fame to host county

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"If you don't rock, just roll away!" says a flag waved by Ai who, at the same time, moved his body to the heavy beats and rhythms of rock music, along with thousands of other rock fanatics in the grasslands of Zhangbei, a small and underdeveloped county in north China's Hebei Province.

Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to Zhangbei's grassy fields over the weekend, just two-hours drive outside Beijing, to enjoy music and release their energy and passion at the 2nd InMusic Festival, which is also known as China's "Glastonbury."

The 20-year-old Ai, who is a confessed rock-and-roll addict, purchased the tickets a month ahead of the three-day festival, which opened on July 30. He came from Beijing with a dozen friends.

"We are here just to let off steam, which the big cities have no room for," he said.

"With teachers and parents not being around, it will be so much fun," he said, smiling.

Pitched tents, smoking barbeques and small markets selling T-shirts, CDs, and other souvenirs, were scattered throughout the 100-hectare grassy festival site.

Apart from the music, the big open skies and overnight camping on the vast fields offered visitors a chance to spend the weekend outside big cities like Beijing, said Liu Yifan, producer of InMusic magazine, which co-sponsored the music fest with Zhangjiakou Tongtai Transportation Corp., Beijing-based Pilot Records and the Zhangbei government.

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