A Russian cultural festival opened in Beijing Wednesday evening to bring typical Russian folk dance and music to Chinese audiences.

The festival, to run until Nov. 5 in such cities as Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan and Ningbo, is sponsored by China's Ministry of Culture with the participation of nearly 160 Russian artists from a group of musicians and three well-known artistic troupes -- Moiseyev dance ensemble, Kuban Kazak dance ensemble and Caraian jazz troupe.

The Moiseyev dance ensemble, the Caraian jazz troupe and the prize-winning musician from the Tchaikovsky International Music Competition performed for the audience at the opening performance of the festival.

During the festival, the Moiseyev dance ensemble and the Kuban Kazak dance ensemble will stage more performances separately.

The Tchaikovsky International Music Competition winners will also hold a concert to mark the 110th anniversary of the death of the great Russian composer Tchaikovsky.

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2003)