What Is Strawberry?

By Liz Tung

If there were a Chinese Woodstock, it would be Strawberry Festival. Held in the grassy basin of Tongzhou Canal Park, Strawberry provides a cuddlier, more laid-back alternative to Midi’s fist-pumping intensity. Bring in the summer with balloons, Strawberry hats and loads of impromptu, barefoot dancing. With its long stretch of the Grand Canal and over 90 acres of rolling hills, the park provides a sprawling playground for Strawberry’s flower children, complete with booths selling foods and eco-friendly, Strawberry-covered wares.

Don’t be lulled by Strawberry’s hippie exterior, however. Indie label Modern Sky, which organizes the festival, has by no means been taking it easy. In only its second year, Strawberry is already giving Midi a run for its money with six stages and over 120 performers—twice the number of last year.

Strawberry shares a number of its headliners with Midi, including Carsick Cars, Tang Dynasty, Xiao He and AK 47, but it has also secured an impressive bill of China’s indie icons. Standouts include the hugely influential Catcher in the Rye, electro-punk outfit Pet Conspiracy, post-punkers ReTROS and the new wave sorceress, Queen Sea Big Shark. Strawberry distinguishes itself from the metal-heavy Midi with a lighter, more eclectic indie/post-rock sound that aligns fittingly with the fest’s bucolic setting.

A full outdoor concert experience, Strawberry deserves a day-long commitment, including the one-hour commute back and forth to Tongzhou.

Schedule

• Strawberry Day 1
• Strawberry Day 2
• Strawberry Day 3

Getting to Strawberry

Take the Batong Subway Line to Tongzhou Beiyuan. There, you will find Modern Sky free shuttle buses, which depart every 20-30 minutes between 10am and 6pm. Return buses are available every 20 minutes from 6-10:30 pm with the last bus at 10:30pm. Alternatively, you can take a cab to Tongzhou Canal Park (通州运河公园) from the Tongzhou Beiyuan stop for about RMB25.

Details

¥80 (per day)-¥180 (three-day pass). Call 400-680-6840 for tickets. Web: http://en.piao.com.cn/beijing/ticket_3298.html