First Qingzhao Poetry and Arts Festival opens in Jinan

The first Qingzhao Poetry and Arts Festival opened on June 21 in Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province, in memory of the 940th anniversary of the birth of Li QingZhao(1084-1155), China's greatest female poet born in Zhangqiu district, Jinan.

More than 60 poets and artists from various countries, including China, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, India and Kazakhstan, gathered in the hometown of the great female poet to enjoy a grand feast of poetry.

The festival, spanning a week, will feature over 30 activities encompassing poetry, music, painting, literature, film, technology, dance, publishing, competitions, markets, education, and more under the theme "poetry plus".

The opening of the event was unveiled by prominent poet Shu Ting, Ma Zhiyong, Party secretary of Zhangqiu district, Chen Xianghong, vice-president of the China Tourism Association and chairman of Dingdu Group, and other well-known cultural celebrities.

Ma said at the ceremony that with ancient springs and numerous famous scholars, Zhangqiu has long been revered by literati throughout history and it has always been intertwined with poetry. Li Qingzhao's humanistic spirit and artistic achievements have been passed down through the ages, illuminating the future, he said.

The festival received special support from institutions such as the British Council and the Cultural Department of the Austrian Embassy in China.