Famous erhu player Song Fei. Photo: Courtesy of FCCH

It has been a tradition for parents in Beijing to bring their kids to the annual Forbidden City Concert Hall (FCCH) Summer Art Festival since it first started 17 years ago. With tickets priced very reasonably, from 20 to 100 yuan, both parents and children get to appreciate a wide range of concerts with many different musical styles.

"It's a great festival for kids in summer ranging from jazz music, Peking Opera to Kun Opera. And kids can also have a lot of fun while learning to play musical instruments in our summer camp. Up to now, 20 percent of the tickets have already been sold in just two weeks," said Xu Jian of the FCCH.

The FCCH will stage 62 concerts and performances over 55 days from July 8 to August 31, as well as summer camp events, master classes and lectures.

Yu Long, musical director of the China Philharmonic will sit in as this year's artistic director. Beijing Symphony Orchestra with master conductor Tan Lihua will raise the curtain on July 8 with classical music selections including the works of Johann Strauss. Kids will also have the chance to appreciate music from Japanese director Miyazaki Hayao's signature animations including Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky and Nausica? of the Valley of the Wind on August 1, and there'll be puppet drama Peter and Wolf, Kun Opera Peony Pavilion, and various other concerts. The festival will wrap up with a concert by Yu's China Philharmonic on August 31.

Where: FCCH, inside Zhongshan Park, west side of Tiananmen

When: July 8 to August 31

Tickets: 20, 60, 80 and 100 yuan (with free ice cream with tickets before concerts)

Contact: 6559-8285, 8306, www.fcchbj.com