The capital's annual extravaganza of stage art and culture known as "Meet in Beijing" will soon be starting again.(Photo: CCTV.com)
The capital's annual extravaganza of stage art and culture known as "Meet in Beijing" will soon be starting again.(Photo: CCTV.com)
The capital's annual extravaganza of stage art and culture known as "Meet in Beijing" will soon be starting again. And with the summer Olympic Games only months away, this year's festival is being called an "Olympic Flagship Cultural Event". China's Ministry of Culture formally announced preparations for the event on Tuesday.
More than 260 stage performances and 160 art exhibitions from 80 countries and regions will fill Beijing's major theatres and exhibition halls through September. Over 20 thousand artists from around the globe will attend the performances, with a total estimated audience of four million people.
The event, which lasts for half a year, is divided into two main parts: home and abroad. The highlight of the domestic portion will be intangible cultural heritage performances and an exhibition presented at Beijing's Cultural Palace of Nationalities. Overseas artworks and performances will be presented in shows divided by geographic region.
Zhang Yu, general director of China Performing Arts Agency, said, "We have planned this for one year and I can say proudly that this is the longest running, largest and highest ranking international arts event in China. Greece is the guest country this year and you will see various examples of Hellenic arts and culture throughout the performances. And South Korean Culture Week will be taking place as usual."
From now until the Olympic Games are over, Beijing will be a capital of sports, but also a world center for culture and the arts - making the Beijing Olympic Games not only an extravaganza of athletics but also international communication.
