'China's Woodstock' raises profile of rock

Over the past 19 years, the festival has been staged 38 times in cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou, Jiangsu province.

Known as "China's Woodstock", a reference to the legendary music festival in the United States, it has propelled many rock bands to fame. Nearly all the country's rock stars have performed at the event, including Cui Jian and Tang Dynasty, one of the first Chinese heavy metal bands.

With this year marking the festival's 20th anniversary, a number of commemorative activities are planned.

Shan, now 45, who was born and raised in Suzhou and graduated from Renmin University of China in 1997 with a degree in political science and international affairs, is now the festival director, having joined the organizing team in 2009.

This year, the event will be staged in cities including Chengdu, Sichuan province, and Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Venues in Shandong, Fujian and Hebei provinces will also hold performances, Shan said. Lineups will be announced soon.

"We will not only celebrate the Midi Music Festival's 20th anniversary, but also the country's rock music scene during the past two decades. It's a collective memory," Shan said.

He added that some of the bands who performed at the first festival in 2000 will be invited to join the celebrations, including Tongue, Miserable Faith and Muma, all of which have risen to become leading performers in China.