Some 40,000 visitors were treated to a feast of western and Chinese culture and customs at the Shanxi Yuncheng Guan Yu International Tourism Festival, held from Sept 25 to 26.

Vibrant Spanish dance, wild African melodies, and elaborate Italian parades along with fantastic performances from 15 foreign delegations drew enthusiastic applause during a pageant at the opening ceremony of the festival.

Apart from overseas arts, shows full of the characteristics of Yuncheng traditional culture amazed audiences, with 13 floats from counties in Yuncheng displaying their unique folk culture.

Taige from Wanrong county, a folk art combining acrobatics and drama, wowed visitors. It is regarded as a dance in the air where groups of performers dressed in costumes stand high only supported by thin sticks. It was added as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

With a theme to promote Guan Yu's spirit and the image of the city, the international event aimed to boost Yuncheng's tourism and popularize local traditional culture.

There were several exhibition areas, including specialty and cultural displays. Visitors appreciated Chinese stories enacted by puppets while sampling local delicacies, and watching ancient salt-making demonstrations.

Guan Yu, a household name in China, was a famous general in the Shu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-280), who has come to symbolize loyalty, honesty and courage.

Chinese actors and actresses perform acrobatics at the opening ceremony of Shanxi Yuncheng Guan Yu International Tourism Festival on Sept 25. The festival lasts for two days. [Photo/sxrb.com]