The opening ceremony of the 2013 China (Zhangjiagang) Yangtze River Culture and Arts Festival was held on Nov 2.

Yang Chengzhi, vice-president of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC), announced the opening of the 2013 China (Zhangjiagang) Yangtze River Culture and Arts Festival on Nov 2. (Photo by Wei Jintian)

Zhu Lifan, deputy secretary of the Zhangjiagang municipal Party committee, hosted the opening ceremony of the 2013 China (Zhangjiagang) Yangtze River Culture and Arts Festival on Nov 2. (Photo by Wei Jintian)

Yao Linrong, secretary of the CPC Zhangjiagang Municipal Committee delivered a welcome address at the opening ceremony of the 2013 China (Zhangjiagang) Yangtze River Culture and Art Festival on Nov 2. (Photo by Wei Jintian)

This year’s festival emphasizes the participation of the general public, and a total of 27 performing art groups from 12 provinces and autonomous regions along the Yangtze River – as well as a folk art group from South Korea - are taking part.

The photo shows a performing art group from South Korea taking part in the 2013 China (Zhangjiagang) Yangtze River Culture and Arts Festival on Nov 2. (Photo by Wei Jintian)

Yang Fang, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Zhangjiagang Municipal Government, said that artistic level is not necessarily connected with the amount of money invested in a performance, and she also said that the performances held during the festival represent various areas along the Yangtze River. Yang added that the people in the region of the river preserve many local cultural customs and festival organizers hope that residents will take part in the event.

A total of eight activities are scheduled to take place during the festival, including a seminar on folk culture along the Yangtze River, a seminar of dramatists based in the region, and an awards ceremony of the 2013 Yangtze River Poems Contest, Yangtze River Cultural Tourism Festival and cross-Straits (Zhangjiagang) Agriculture Festival.

Yang Chengzhi, vice-president of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC), announced the opening of the event, and Cai Lixin, head of the publicity department of the CPC Suzhou Committee, and Yao Linrong, secretary of the CPC Zhangjiagang Municipal Committee, attended the opening ceremony.

By Wang Yifei

Edited by Niva Whyman