Strawberry Music Festival was held in Beijing from May 2 to 4 attracting fans from around the country. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

　　On a bright morning on the outskirts of Beijing's Yanqing district, a dusty field was already stirring. Tents were being pitched, food stalls rolled into place, and festivalgoers arrived in small clusters, backpacks slung over their shoulders and sneakers dusted with dirt.

　　The Strawberry Music Festival, which has grown into a staple of China's summer music scene, was about to begin its three-day run on May 2.

　　Attendees, who had traveled from across the country, carried homemade banners, while others shared snacks on picnic blankets.

　　Among the visitors was Stephanie Daniels, a British musician who performs under the name SCAPA. It was her first visit to China. After a week of exploring Beijing's studios and collaborating with local artists, she found that the festival offered a more visceral indicator of the country's creative pulse.

　　"It felt very genuine," she said. "People were there for the music, for the vibe."

　　The festival featured bands fusing local traditions with global influences. Daniels was particularly impressed by Sound Fragment, a six-member ensemble blending brass with traditional Chinese instruments.

　　Fans, many in their 20s, absorbed the performances with rapt attention. "Even if I don't know the lyrics, I feel it in the beat," Daniels said.

　　By the late afternoon, the festival ground was abuzz with creative activity. Attendees tried out instruments at workshops, contributed to art installations and joined games of cards and badminton.

　　As the music shifted toward the evening sets, the air grew thick with energy, laughter and the smell of street food.