The curtain will rise for the 14th China International Chorus Festival on July 19 at Beijng's Wukesong Arena, with 308 choirs from 59 countries and regions around the globe joining the event.

Launched in 1992, the biennial festival has developed into an important platform for promoting choral education, publicizing Chinese culture and showcasing the talents of domestic and overseas art troupes.

Lin Jinsheng, Party secretary of the China Arts and Entertainment Group, the host of the event, says it could also be a driving force for the city's tourism development.

The weeklong event will present 263 activities including variety shows, a choral education conference, masterclass workshops and charity concerts.

"The festival will not only serve as a bridge for cultural exchanges, but also a stage for poor children from remote locations to display their talent and beautiful singing voices." Lin adds.

This year, with the help from the China Children and Teenagers' Fund, the festival will offer a stage for nine choirs consisting of students and teachers from Jiangxi, Jilin, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Hunan and Hubei provinces, which have been sponsored by charity groups like the Tri-joy Study and Travel Education Foundation and the Beijing Deqing Foundation.

Li Ling, a music teacher from a high school in Yongshou county, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, is looking forward to her first taste of an international music festival.

Once sponsored by the Tri-joy Study and Travel Education Foundation to receive vocal training in Germany, Li decided to pass down her experience to younger music lovers.

"To learn chorus is conducive to cultivate students' team spirit, leadership and ability to communicate," says Li, who is bringing 30 students to the festival. "The event allows these children to see the outside world and inspire them to fulfill their dreams in the future."