According to the local culture department, 107 performances are to be staged in the first two months of 2017 spreading across a range of fields including Beijing opera, local dramas, musical plays, dancing and quyi (a traditional art form category covering ballad singing), Pingshu, comic dialogues, clapper talks and cross talks.

A host of experienced artistic groups will be invited from all over the country and the globe to put forward a cultural extravaganza. These include a national ballet group from Russia, a waltz band from Vienna, Austria and a skilled acrobatic troupe from Qinghai province, China.

A stage play during the Shandong cultural festival in 2016. [Photo/sdswhtwx]