Men perform folk dance, Tiaocai. Tiaocai is an old tradition of Yi people in Yunnan to dance for serving dishes for guests in a wedding. [File photo]

The 13th Asia Arts Festival will be held in Kunming from November 18 to 22.

The festival aims to provide a platform for share, exhibition, communication and harmony by showing the arts in Yunnan, China and Asia.

The opening ceremony is a highlight of the festival under the principle of showing Asian features and local characteristics in the national standard in China. More than 500 actors from 11 countries will perform in the opening show.

A folk troupe from Nanjian County in Dali, is scheduled to show Tiaocai, an original performance to serve dishes for guests during weddings among Yi people in Wuliang Mountain and Ailao Mountain in the province. It is expected to express the respect for guests from faraway cities. Now, the dance has been listed in China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Asia Arts Festival has been onstage in Hangzhou, Changchun, Foshan, Nantong, Zhengzhou, Erdos and Chongqing since 2004. Nearly 300 artist groups from 26 countries joined in the festival. (Editors:Lynn, Cathy)

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