A total of 62 plays will compete for top prizes at the festival,

which starts on September 28, varying from Peking operas, folk

music, dancing dramas to children's plays, magic, puppet and

acrobatic shows. Quite a few of the plays have just won the top

prize awarded by the Ministry of Culture.

Another 43 plays are for entertainment, and are mostly local

operas. There is also a dancing troupe from Taiwan to present a

Chinese folklore and two troupes from Hong Kong.

Five troupes from abroad have been invited to attend the

festival, including the prestigious German-based Stuttgart Ballet and the Johann Stuart Capella.

During the festival, several exhibitions will be held on

Chinese calligraphy, Chinese painting, silk weaving and other

handicrafts.

(Xinhua)