Ningbo performers give a singing and dancing performance dramatizing tea-picking culture in Zhejiang province at a gala in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, on Jan 24. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

A troupe of performers from Ningbo, Zhejiang province put on a gala featuring a string of traditional Chinese performances in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, on Jan 24 to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Croatia.

The troupe's appearance in Zagreb is the latest in its "2017 Happy Chinese New Year" tour, which was initiated by China's Ministry of Culture. The world tour is designed to strengthen China's relationships with countries across the globe and further promote international cultural exchanges.

The troupe entertained the crowd with traditional Chinese songs and dances, including a dance performance based on the classic Chinese legend "The Butterfly Lovers", a dance dramatizing traditional Chinese wedding customs, and an all-female performance showcasing the charm and elegance of people in Jiangnan, the region south of the Yangtze River Delta.

Ningbo was also put under the spotlight, as the troupe also presented the distinctive culture of their native city. Tianyi Chamber, the oldest existing library in China, Dongqian Lake, a natural lake in Ningbo, and other natural and cultural features were embedded into the performances.

The performers also created a festive Spring Festival atmosphere by giving rooster-shaped dolls to the audience, a reference to the start of the Year of the Rooster on Jan 28.

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic gave an address at the gala and expressed her gratitude to the artists from Ningbo city. The whole venue was filled with more than 1,800 people that night and their warm applause filled the theatre.