Chinese Culture Week kicks off in Saudi Arabia

12-29-2010 08:55 BJT

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This year marks the 20th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Saudi Arabia. A key part of the event, "China Culture Week", kicked off in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia.

The three-day event, sponsored by the kingdom's Culture and Information Ministry in tandem with the Chinese Culture Ministry, is being organized at Riyadh's huge King Fahd Culture Center.

It features a flurry of activities, including exhibitions and stage performances.

Local residents in Riyadh are offered a close-up chance to see traditional folk art inscribed as China's national intangible heritage, such as embroidery.

Chinese musician Guo Zhongyu plays Yangqin, a traditional Chinese musical instrument, at the opening ceremony of the Chinese Culture Week in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, Dec. 25, 2010. The Chinese Culture Week was kicked off here on Saturday to mark the 20th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Saudi Arabia. (Xinhua/Li Xiaolin)

A folk music group from north China's Heilongjiang province bridged the two countries with music. The artists not only played traditional Chinese music, but also improvised renditions of Arabian music.