The 2020 China (Zhangjiagang) Yangtze River Culture and Art Festival kicks off in the county-level city of Zhangjiagang, East China's Jiangsu province on Oct 30. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2020 China (Zhangjiagang) Yangtze River Culture and Art Festival kicked off in the county-level city of Zhangjiagang, East China's Jiangsu province on Oct 30, local media reported.

The festival, which was initiated in 2004 by the Zhangjiagang government, has become a cultural bonanza featuring songs, dances, instrumental performances, and recitations and operas from 12 provinces and cities along the Yangtze River.

Located on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, the city lies at the intersection of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. 

In the past year, the city has beefed up efforts to promote its social and economic development. Highlighting ecological civilization, culture and art, and digital economy, Zhangjiagang held a number of promotional activities in nearby cities, including Shanghai. The city has also achieved remarkable progress in poverty relief in Gongliu, a county in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, according to local authorities.

Zhangjiagang Business Week took place concurrently with the festival, with 68 projects worth 61.5 billion yuan ($9.2 billion) signed during the event.