Life of Guangzhou - Shenzhen Park Marks 20th Anniversary

Performers from different Chinese ethnic groups at Splendid China·China Folk Culture Villages in Nanshan District yesterday. Wei Jiancheng

A gala will be held at the Splendid China·China Folk Culture Villages theme park on Saturday to mark the park's 20th anniversary, a news conference was told yesterday.

Splendid China, which opened Nov. 22, 1989, was the first cultural theme park in China and represents China's architectural wonders. China Folk Culture Villages, established in 1991, features replicas of famous landmarks with minority groups showing their craft skills and performing traditional songs and dances.

The two parks merged in 2003.

The gala will feature original folk songs and classic songs, traditional dances and performances by representatives of China's 56 ethnic groups, Lan Zhiqi, vice head of the Department of Culture & Publicity of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, told the conference.

Among the performers will be famous sopranos and tenors from Mongolian and Tibetan ethnic groups, as well as a child singer and many other performers from Shenzhen, said Mongolian Kang Shaohui, director of the gala.

"Visitors will be able to see not only traditional but also innovative elements of ethnic group cultures," Kang said.

Shenzhen had the second-largest number of ethnic group residents in China, after Beijing, and Splendid China·China Folk Culture Villages had become an ideal place for expatriates to learn something about Chinese ethnic culture, Lan said.

Over the past 20 years, Splendid China·China Folk Culture Villages has hosted nearly 60 million visitors and earned 1.1 billion yuan (USD161 million).

(Jane Lai )

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