The Pingyao International Photography Festival opened Friday in the 2,700-year-old city in north China's Shanxi Province with nearly ten thousand pieces of works exhibited.

With the theme of "peace and progress," the festival, the only international event of its kind held in China, highlights a photo show to mark the 60th anniversary of the world Anti-Fascist War and China's anti-Japanese war, said Shen Weichen, head of the provincial publicity department.

More than 180 photographers from over 20 countries and regions brought their works to the festival, which also include a series of seminars, slide shows, photo fairs, and an annual best photo competition, according to the festival's organizing committee.

First held in 2001, the annual festival has become an important platform for culture exchanges, said Shen.

Pingyao, located in the center part of Shanxi province, is famous for its well-preserved city wall and streets, stores, temples and residential housing built in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The city was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1997.

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2005)