Source: CCTV.com

10-16-2008 09:02

An art festival celebrating the art and culture of four neighbors, China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand was kicked off in Yunnan Sunday night. The festival is taking place in the Jinghong City, in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. An evening gala, featuring song and dance from all four countries opened the festival in the southwestern Chinese province.

An art festival celebrating the art and culture of four  neighbors, China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand was kicked  off in Yunnan Sunday night.

With the stage properties, light and sound effects, the opening seemed to taken place in a tropical forest of Xishuangbanna.

The audience was entertained with exotic dances. Thailand's Chiang Rai City Art Group performed traditional dances. From Laos came the Luang Prabang Art Group and there was a troupe from Myanmar's Shan State.

Yunnan Province's Honghe,Yuxi, Pu'er, Chuxiong and Xishuangbanna Autonomous prefectures merited special representation. Performers from those regions showcased traditional performing arts of the Yi, Lahu and Dai minority groups.

A festival goer said, "It's great to see performances with such diversity. I love it!"

Dancer from Chuxiong prefecture of Yunnan Province, said, "The festival is an opportunity to exchange arts among different cultural backgrounds. We are glad to learn from each other."

The festival is regarded as more than pure public entertainment. It's also platform for artists from the four countries to share ideas.

Editor:Liu Fang