On the opening day the city of Linyi’s 12 th Calligrapher Culture Festival, in Shandong province, on Sept 4, there were many things on offer, including a Flower and Bird Painting Exhibition, the first exhibition of its kind to be sponsored by the China Artists Association, and a display of Linyi’s soft power.

On hand for the opening ceremony was Chen Xianyun, the city’s mayor, who told the gathering that the Calligraphy Festival has become a sort of cultural brand for Linyi and a sign of its cultural development and something that is sure to boost its culture industry.

This year also happens to be the 1,711th anniversary of the birth of Wang Xizhi, a 4th-century calligrapher who lived in Linyi and the city is hoping to build itself into a culture city with Festival, which is one of China’s Top 10 cultural arts festivals.

Chen Xianyun, the city’s mayor, delivers a speech.[Photo by Wang Qian/chinadaily.com.cn]

Cultural and creative products at the festival.[Photo by Wang Qian/chinadaily.com.cn]

The calligrapher works.[Photo by Wang Qian/chinadaily.com.cn]

Wang Qian contributed to the story