Shanghai Week opens in St. Petersburg

The cream of Chinese artists performed at an evening gala on Thursday night at the Marinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. It was the official opening of Shanghai Week, as part of the ongoing Year of China in Russia. The activity is held to bind the fraternal ties between the two countries.

　　The Night of Baltic Sea evening gala showcased a well-reputed repertoire of singing and dancing, performed by renowned Chinese artists Huang Doudou, Liao Changyong and Zhang Jianyi.

　　

　　To find common ground for both the Chinese and Russian audiences, the predominantly Chinese program was balanced out with touches of Russian elements.

　　Following the gala comes a packed four days of trade and economic forums, Chinese traditional medicine seminars, volleyball games, as well as art exhibitions and film screenings.

　　

　　The 300-strong Shanghai delegation arrived in St Petersburg last Friday, and have been participating in various cultural events.

　　Shanghai and St Petersburg tied the friendship knot back in 1988. Last year, St Petersburg week was held in Shanghai, and was the largest cultural exchange event ever held in that city.