The 4th Maritime Silk Road International Arts Festival is scheduled to be held in Quanzhou from Nov 22 to 27. [Photo/hsgjysj.com]

The 4th Maritime Silk Road International Arts Festival opened in Quanzhou in East China's Fujian province on Nov 22.

The event, with a theme of "colorful maritime silk road and mutual learning among civilizations", is organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the People's Government of Fujian.

The six-day event will feature cultural performances, forums on artistic development and exhibitions of international intangible cultural heritages related to the Maritime Silk Road.

More than 100 media outlets at all levels from home and abroad have paid close attention to this year's festival, and will provide comprehensive, three-dimensional and interactive coverage.

A special opera will be staged during the opening ceremony on the evening of Nov 22. The opera, directed by national first-class directors Xing Shimiao and Gao Shan, integrates Quanzhou's intangible cultural heritage of string puppetry in a story of honesty, courage, sharing and sacrifice on the Maritime Silk Road.

In addition, as one of the interactive projects of the arts festival, a hiking event through the ancient urban area in Quanzhou will take place on Dec 1. Five thousand participants are expected.