Shen Guofang, Party secretary of Zhangjiagang, makes a speech at the opening ceremony of the 2019 (Zhangjiagang) Yangtze River Culture and Art Festival on Nov 1. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2019 (Zhangjiagang) Yangtze River Culture and Art Festival kicked off at the Poly Grand Theater on Nov 1 in Zhangjiagang, a port city in East China‘s Jiangsu province, and will run until mid-November.

Launched in 2004, the annual event aims to celebrate and bring together the culture and arts of the 12 Chinese provinces along the Yangtze River.

Shen Guofang, Party secretary of Zhangjiagang, made a speech at the opening ceremony. He stressed the important role the Yangtze River plays in promoting the city’s cultural and economic development.

The port city has taken full advantage of the culture and art festival to promote industry upgrading and technological development and enhance regional cultural and economic exchanges.

Pingtan Opera is performed at the opening ceremony of the 2019 (Zhangjiagang) Yangtze River Culture and Art Festival on Nov 1. [Photo by Zhu Shanshan]

This year’s event will stage 10 large-scale cultural activities, including a traditional drama show, cross talk, and folk dances, offering local residents a chance to enjoy performers from China and around the world.

The seventh Zhangjiagang Yangtze River Folk Art Festival and 2019 Yangtze River Xiaoxi (storytelling with song and dance) and Xiaopin (Chinese skit)?Exhibition will be launched during the festival.

The Golden Autumn Economic and Trade Week is also a highlight at this year‘s event, with a total of 17 trade exchange activities.

The trade week will include one main venue and 16 sub-venues and will include a Zhangjiagang innovation development meeting, launch ceremony for several key projects, the seventh Jiangsu Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, and a hydrogen industry exchange conference.