The Russian Feyevik Song and Dance Troupe performs at the opening ceremony of the fifth Maritime Silk Road International Arts Festival held in Quanzhou, Fujian province. [Photo by Hu Meidong/China Daily]

The Maritime Silk Road International Cultural Tourism Festival is set to commence in Fuzhou, capital of East China's Fujian province, on Dec 6.

By combining the established "Maritime Silk Road (Fuzhou) International Tourism Festival" and the "Maritime Silk Road International Arts Festival" in Quanzhou, the festival emerges as a distinctive national cultural tourism event focused on the Maritime Silk Road. Starting this year, the festival will alternate annually between Fuzhou and Quanzhou, with Fuzhou taking the lead in hosting this year's festivities.

This year's festival emphasizes three key cultural elements: "international, Mindu (Fuzhou), and benefiting the people". With the tagline "Together for a Grand Cultural Tourism Celebration in the City of Blessings", the festival follows a structured format of "1+1+1+N", featuring a launch event, an international culture and art exchange week, a Fujian Tourism Expo spanning 20,000 square meters, and a variety of supporting activities.

During the event, a diverse gathering of nearly a thousand government officials, representatives of UN Tourism and the World Tourism Alliance, and delegates from 41 countries and regions, alongside industry leaders, experts, scholars, and guests, will convene in Fuzhou for comprehensive exchanges spanning culture, tourism, and trade.

The festival will feature special activities such as Sino-French cultural exchanges, a shipbuilding-themed symphony concert, and various shipbuilding cultural brand events. Exploring the essence of shipbuilding, Kuliang, hot springs, Min Opera, and more, the festival will offer a range of engaging activities, providing people with a rich experience of Mindu culture.