Zhouzhuang to hold 2017 Cross-Straits Lantern Festival

The 2017 Cross-Straits Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival is to be staged in Zhouzhuang, a famous water town in East china's Jiangsu province, on Sept 20.

The festival, an annual event in Kunshan, a county-level city in Jiangsu which administers Zhouzhuang, aims to promote closer cultural exchanges between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

It is the first time for Zhouzhuang to host the grand event.

Thousands of lanterns shall illuminate the night sky in Zhouzhuang during the 2017 Cross-Straits Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival on Sept 20. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The night sky above the ancient water town will be illuminated by thousands of colorful lanterns through every night until Oct 20.

The lanterns will be decorated with images representing the local culture of Kunshan, Taiwan and famous stories from Zhouzhuang's history.

An array of activities will also be organized to add an extra dash of color to the festival, including a cross-Straits calligraphy and painting exhibition, food fiesta and boat cruise.

Preparations for the festival are already in full swing.

"We shall stage a fantastic cultural and tourism banquet for visitors, local residents and Taiwan businesspeople in the city," pledged Dong Jianguo, deputy director of the administrative committee of the Kunshan Tourism Resort District at a press conference on Aug 3.

A press conference for the 2017 Cross-Straits Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival is held in Zhouzhuang, Jiangsu province on Aug 3. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]