Yanbian to host Northeast Asian cultural week

Northeast Asia's food, intangible heritage and folk performances will take center stage in the ethnic Korean autonomous prefecture of Yanbian in China's Jilin province from Sept 3 to 8.

The Northeast Asian Culture, Tourism and Food Week, which is hosted by Jilin's culture and tourism department and Yanbian's government, will feature 10 programs for participants from 36 ethnic groups from around China, who will also invited to present their cultures at the event.

"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China's founding, and the beginning of cultural and tourism integration," says Zhang Yuzhen, a senior official with Yanbian's culture and tourism bureau.

"So, hosting this weeklong program has special meaning to us. We hope it'll attract more visitors to experience Yanbian's charm."

Yanbian aspires to become a leisure destination, featuring ethnic Korean culture.

The ethnically diverse autonomous region is near China's border with Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.