One of China's largest rock music festivals, Strawberry Music Festival, took off May 1 with a line-up of musicians and bands from around the globe.

The event is taking place in 10 cities around China: Shanghai, Beijing, Changsha, Changchun, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzen, Wuhan, Xi'An and Xiamen.

Strawberry Music Festival will feature the best of the local music scene but is slotted to bring in some big-hitters from abroad.

Local music heroes such as Beijing-based indie band Carsick Cars kicked off the event in Shanghai on Thursday, while international bands of the likes of American post-rock group Explosions in the Sky will also have their time on the Strawberry stage.

Strawberry Festival was started in 2009 by Modern Sky Records and has since increased in popularity year after year. Considered to be one of the top three outdoor music festivals in China, Strawberry Music Festival is known for bringing renowned indie rock bands and performers straight to China's doorstep, all the while honing the focus in on local talents as well.

Strawberry Music Festival is considered to be part of a growing phenomenon in China, which has been host to over 100 music festivals in the last year.

In an increasingly connected world, how people listen to music - whether from abroad or by local artists - has changed, and the Chinese are experiencing a greater amount of exposure to new types of music than ever before.