The Beijing Foreign Language Festival 2014 will take place on May 17 and 18 at Beijing Chaoyang Park to encourage more residents to get involved with foreign-language learning.

To encourage more participation from the public, the Beijing's Foreign Affairs Office will release free tickets to the public starting May 11 at five libraries and bookstores in the city.

The festival is intended to improve people's language skills while fostering a good language environment for the APEC meeting to be held in Beijing this year.

In addition to foreign language performances, live lectures by foreign language experts and consulting on site from foreign language training organizations, people can also exchange foreign language books with each other during the festival, the Foreign Affairs Office said.

Book donation stands will be set up in the park to allow visitors to donate language books and learning tools to schools and communities on the outskirts of Beijing, in an attempt to improve learning conditions in rural areas.

Designated places to receive free tickets:

Beijing Foreign Language Bookstore 65126928

Xicheng district library 66561158-106

Chaoyang district library 85992780

Haidian district library 82605259

Capital Library of China 67358114-3307