The fair is one of many activities organized by the city of Hangzhou to attract visitors during the week-long holidays which began on May 1, according to a local official.

More than 100 dealers in cultural relics and jewelry from a dozen provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in the Chinese mainland, and from Hong Kong and China's Taiwan are attending the fair, where classic furniture, jewelry and precious stones, selected cultural relics. Over 128 paintings by Chinese mainland painters are exhibited.

Hangzhou City, famed for its natural scenery, including the West Lake, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China. The city is at its most beautiful in spring when flowers are in full bloom, and trees and shrubs are green.

During the fair, visitors will have the chance to sit in on lectures given by specialists on how to assess jewelry and precious stones.

The fair, which is organized by three Hangzhou organizations, will run till May 7.

(China Daily May 4, 2002)