Chinese artists perform at the Chinese opera gala, Toronto, Canada, Jan 15, 2017. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

A Chinese opera gala was held in Toronto to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year.

Consul-general Xue Bing from the Consulate General of China in Toronto and about 600 government officials and representatives from China and Canada attended the gala on Jan 15.

Xue said Chinese opera is a Chinese cultural treasure and he hoped the gala would narrow the distance between Canadian people and Chinese culture.

As part of the 2017 Happy Chinese New Year in Canada program, the two-hour event featured Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera and other local operas.