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The Shandong Cultural Exchange Festival opened in the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on Jan 29. A ceremony of putting icons of Confucius and Guanyu (a well-known Chinese historical figure and respected as an epitome of loyalty) in the center was held.

Shandong Vice Governor Ji Xiangqi and renowned Buddist master Xingyun, attended the opening ceremony.

Showing both the charm of ancient and contemporary Shandong, the festival featured diverse activities, including a folk exhibition, samples of cooked flour-based food and acrobatic shows. Intangible Cultural Heritage successors of Weifang woodblock printing, Weifang kites, Weifang cloth toys, Gaomi paper-cuts and Caozhou dough modeling provided lively stage shows.