Regarded as China's cultural Olympics, the 9th China Arts Festival will be open on May 10th in southern Guangdong province. Hundreds of performances will be staged for millions of audience members. Now let's take a look at the latest news from the press conference at the Ministry of Culture in Beijing.

The best of China's stage performances over the last three years will be staged and run for the governments' top Wenhua award. In the amateur category is the Qunxing Award for art lovers from across the country. For the first time, the festival will hold at an international trade fair for domestic theaters and art troupes.

Wang Xiaoling, organizer of 9th China Arts Festival, said, "A total of 28 venues in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan, and Zhongshan are gearing up for the upcoming festival. Nearly half of the performances will be free in theatres and squares for communities, farmers, students, and migrant workers. It's estimated that nearly 8 to 9 million people will watch over a hundred performances during the festival."

China Arts Festival was initiated by the central government in 1987 in Beijing. Since then, the spirit of the cultural event has never changed: from the people and for the people. The festival is known as the people's cultural feast. The 9th China Arts Festival will be held from May 10th to the 25th in Guangdong province.