International students perform Yueju opera The Dream of Red Mansion at the opening ceremony of the ninth Ningbo International University Students Festival. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The ninth Ningbo International University Students Festival kicked off at University of Nottingham Ningbo China on April 12. The opening ceremony attracted nearly 200 international university students in Ningbo.

A variety of art shows combining Chinese and western, traditional and modern elements, were staged. Folk music ensembles, dances, songs, Yueju opera, and T-stage shows were performed by students from different universities in Ningbo.  

The opening ceremony also saw the presentation of government scholarships. Eight international students studying in Ningbo were awarded.

The festival, with the theme "Integration and Collaboration", is slated to run until April 18. A series of activities including field studies, competitions, a science expo, a music festival and a concert will be held over the course of the following week. The activities will focus on literature, sports, and art. Domestic and international university students in Ningbo will experience the charm of Chinese culture together.

So far, Ningbo has cooperated with more than 1,200 universities and schools in over 110 countries and regions. Over 4,000 international students are currently studying in Ningbo, more than half of whom are university students.