Performers in traditional Chinese costumes give a dance show with large brushes at the opening ceremony of the 35th China Orchid Pavilion International Calligraphy Festival in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province on April 10. [Photo/VCG]

A cultural festival revolving around the art of Chinese calligraphy opened in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province on April 10.

Shaoxing is an ancient city with a rich calligraphy culture. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 317-420), Chinese calligrapher Wang Xizhi (AD 303-361) invited 41 friends on an outing to Orchid Pavilion in the city, which led to the creation of Lanting Xu, or A Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Poems. Considered the greatest masterpiece of Chinese calligraphy, the work not only crowned Wang as "the Sage of Calligraphy" but also the Orchid Pavilion as the "Mecca of Calligraphy ".

Starting in 1985, Shaoxing began a cultural festival to memorialize the gathering. After 35 years, it has gradually become a comprehensive platform for carrying forward the art of calligraphy and promoting Shaoxing's cultural attractions.

At the opening ceremony of the 2019 calligraphy festival, more than 1,000 people from the fields of culture, tourism, media and business took part and admired the music and dance show.

A series of cultural activities will be staged in the following days, including calligraphy exhibitions and forums and seminars on calligraphy works.