Oktoberfest heads to Beijing in September

Beijing residents soon will be able to enjoy an authentic Bavarian-style festival without making an 8,000-km trip.

The Munich Oktoberfest, which began in 1810 in Munich, Germany, will come to Beijing this September.

"The original Oktoberfest in Germany was to celebrate weddings by royal families, and was continued by our people," said Oliver Belik, the Munich mayor's representative in Beijing.

Belik, who has been working for the festival's organizing committee for 11 years, predicts the Oktoberfest in Beijing will be popular.

In Munich, more than 7 million people come to the festival every year. They drink up to 10 million beers and eat 600,000 chickens and 400,000 sausages.

Highlighting the Beijing festival will be the four distinctive theme tents. For example, the Oktoberfest tent will salute the 203-year-old year history of the festival, while the Sissi tent will be for those who are fond of carnivals and fashion.

"Introducing multicultural mega-events can enhance cultural communication between China and other counties," said Liu Shaojian, deputy director of the State-owned Culture Assets Supervision Administration Office of Beijing.