The 8th China Folk Art Festival will run from Sept 19-23 in Datong, northwestern Shanxi province.

The largest event of its kind, it will feature a wide range of performances and parades from more than 20 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, and seminars on preserving the nation's cultural heritage, besides the re-opening of five ancient Buddhist and Taoist compounds and the launch of tourism books, and a huge catalog, compiled by scholar Feng Jicai, on the ancient sculptural arts of Datong, says city mayor Geng Yanbo.

The festival coincides with the 9th China Yungang Grottoes Arts and Culture Festival, and the finals of the 10th China Mountain Flowers Folk Performance Awards.

A city rich in coal resources, Datong has a history that goes back more than 2,300 years and is known for its Yungang Grottoes, ancient mural paintings, and sculptures in a cluster of well-preserved Buddhist and Taoist structures.