The 6th China International Folk Art Festival, to be held from Oct. 1 to 18, will be the largest ever in the country, with nearly 450 artists from 22 countries giving outdoor performances and galas, sources with the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC) said in Beijing Monday.

The three major stages for the festival will be in Beijing, Shanxi Province and Huangshan City, named after the well-known Chinese mountain Huangshan, in east China's Anhui Province.

According to organizers, various types of performances, premiering in Huangshan Oct. 1, will cover the area surrounding the city until Oct. 7. From Oct. 8 to 11, 11 selected performances by foreign troupes will move to Beijing, and then to Shanxi the week after.

CFLAC Vice-President Li Mu said half of the artistic troupes are national ones, such as the Polish State Folk Song & Dance Ensemble "Mazowsze", the Columbia National Ballet, the "Mtatsminda" Georgian National Ballet Ensemble known for its man tip-tap dance.

Some performances will feature strong national flavors, including the hula by Poe Manea Manihika Dance Ensemble of the Cook Islands, the tip-tap dance by the Fosbrook Youth Art Ensemble of England, the drum play of the Japanese Hachijo Island Taiko Group as well as "Janchi Madang" Drama Ensemble of Inchon of the Republic of Korea and the flag dance by the Flag Throwers of Cori of Italy.

Li said these performances, mainly staged in city parks and theaters, are aimed to strengthen communication among artists worldwide, and the mutual understanding and friendship among different peoples.

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2004)