Exhibitions of ancient Buddhist sutras rubbings and drawings of Confucius sponsored by the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture, as well as an array of exhibitions and artistic performances featuring Shandong cultural traditions such as Niejiazhuang clay sculptures, Laixi puppet, Weifang kites, woodcut New Year pictures, and paper cuttings took place in the Taiwan counties Nantou, Hualien and Taitung during a cross-Straits cultural exchange event from Jan 4 to 15.

A group of seven cultural community representatives led by the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture took part in the 2017 Hong Kong International Licensing Show in a bid to motivate the province's cultural creative industries and promote Shandong-Hong Kong cultural exchanges.

More than 370 companies from 12 countries and regions took part in the event from Jan 9 to 11. The largest exhibition of its kind in Asia, the show gathered more than 900 projects and brands seeking licensing partners in animation, art, education, entertainment, fashion and catering businesses.

A group of 32 members of the Shandong Art Troupe brought their best New Year's wishes to the people of Mongolia with a series of cultural activities and performances.

Jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Mongolia, the Ulan Bator Chinese Culture Center and the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture, Chinese New Year celebration series was held in Ulan Bator, Mongolia from Jan 18 to 24.

The events will help Mongolians better understand Chinese culture and promote bilateral humanities exchanges. Shandong and Mongolia share good cultural and economic cooperation, which the events will expand.

A group of 25 members from the Jinan Art Troupe celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year in Tanzania on Jan 21 with festive Chinese music and dances, acrobatics, magic shows and martial arts performances.

More than 4,000 people, including government officials, commercial representatives, local residents, overseas Chinese and members of the media, attended the event.

The two-day Chinese New Year's celebration series was jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania and Tanzania's Ministry of Information Cultural Arts and Sports.

The Malabo Cultural Center of Equatorial Guinea was full of festivity as a group of artists from Jinan Art Troupe put on a spectacular Chinese New Year gala on Jan 24 to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Organized by the Ministry of Culture, the show marked the fourth time a "Happy Chinese New Year" event had come to Equatorial Guinea.

Traditional Chinese dance and music, magic shows, acrobatics and hand-made crafts supplied by the Jinan Art Troupe were well received by the audience in admiration of the expert skills on display.

A group of 21 members from the Shandong Art Troupe staged nine performances in Thai cities including a performance at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Happy Chinese New Year gala in Thailand from Jan 23 to Feb 1.

The event was part of the "Happy Chinese New Year" project sponsored by the Chinese Culture Ministry to promote Spring Festival practices in other parts of the world.

Artists from the Shandong Art Troupe staged several folk dances and dramas with distinctive local features, giving people in Thailand the opportunity to know more about the province’s culture and customs during the Happy Chinese New Year celebrations.

The Chinese New Year of the Rooster was celebrated in grand style in Stockholm from Jan 27 to 31, with traditional Chinese handicrafts and artworks supplied by the Shandong Art Troupe.

A Spring Festival atmosphere was generated by displays of paper cutting, clay sculpture, calligraphy, folk music and puppet performance, attracting children and adults alike.

A group of 10 members from Shandong Peking Opera Theater are touring schools and universities in Hong Kong with classic Peking and Kunqu opera.

The Shandong Peking Opera Theater has established long-term cooperation with opera theaters in Hong Kong based on eighteen years’ of communication and exchange. Opera artists from both sides have made concerted efforts to develop the relationship, having co-held several performances over the years.