The Performances with unique local cultural characteristics, local traditional dances and horse performance mesmerized the audience coming from home and abroad at the opening ceremony.
More than 6,500 local artists and 700 horses participated in the exquisite performance which drew appreciation from the spectators. Both events scheduled to continue for a month are aimed to promote people-to-people exchanges and integrate culture with tourism along the Silk Road. As many as 23 themed activities will be held during the expo and the festival, which will host its closing ceremony in Gansu's Dunhuang city on August 31.
Luo Shugang, China's minister of culture and tourism, delivered a keynote speech and pointed out that due to joint efforts made by various parties, positive results have been seen in the cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation among the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, with the vision turning into reality.
In recent years, Gansu Province has made significant strides in developing the cultural tourism industry.
In the first half of the year, the province has received 160 million tourists and saw a tourism revenue of more than 113 billion yuan (about 16.4 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 25.6 percent and 31 percent respectively, as compared to last year.
A total number of 800 guests from over 30 countries, including Luo Shugang, China's minister of culture and tourism; Tserenbat Namsrai, minister of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia; and Zhu Shanzhong, executive director of The United Nations World Tourism Organization attended the opening ceremony.