Festival held in Quanzhou celebrating Fujian's culture
By admin on 2014-12-29

East China's Fujian Province boasts a rich portfolio of cultural heritage and historical sites and its people are renowned for their hospitality.

A festival celebrating the province's unique culture has recently been held in the city of Quanzhou.

The Fujian Cultural Festival ends with a concert dedicated to Nanyin Music. Accompanied by traditional woodwinds and strings, performers from the world over sing centuries-old lyrics in the Minnan dialect. The musical tradition goes back to the Song Dynasty,about 1,000 years ago.

Over the centuries, migrants who left the coastal province spread Nanyin music around the western rim of the Pacific Ocean, from Japan in the north to Southeast Asia.

Organizers say the festival has featured 15 major events, covering almost all aspects of Fujian's distinctive culture. They include a cultural seminar; a drama festival; a series of Kung Fu performances; a Lantern Festival exhibition; and an International Forum discussing the Chinese language and its many dialects. They are also planning a tea ceremony, which is expected to draw one thousand guests.

Nearly 30 countries and regions have taken part in the festival events.