January and February will prove another two culturally rich months in Shandong province. The region has unveiled an array of vibrant artistic performances that seek to enrich the life of its residents, especially during the upcoming festival season.

The series event was originally launched in June, 2016 by the province's culture department under the title "Qilu Big Stage". With a series of stage shows planned annually throughout the year, Shandong aims to create a platform to keep the general public soaked in an artistic atmosphere.

According to the local culture department, 107 performances are to be staged in the first two months of 2017 spreading across a range of fields including Beijing opera, local dramas, musical plays, dancing and quyi (a traditional art form category covering ballad singing), Pingshu, comic dialogues, clapper talks and cross talks.

A host of experienced artistic groups will be invited from all over the country and the globe to put forward a cultural extravaganza. These include a national ballet group from Russia, a waltz band from Vienna, Austria and a skilled acrobatic troupe from Qinghai province, China.

To facilitate its residents, the province has scheduled performances across several major festivals including New Year's Day, the Spring Festival and the Lantern Festival. Tickets prices for most events are cheap, 30 yuan at the lowest, as to ensure everyone can afford to join the cultural bonanza.

"Since June 2016, the culture department of Shandong province has held 318 performances receiving satisfying feedbacks from the public," said Zhang Guilin, head of the organization. The official hopes the new selections during the cultural season can further enrich the lives of citizens as well as raise the prestige of Shandong province.

A joker performance during the 2016 cultural festival in Shandong province. [Photo/sdswhtwx]

An opera performance during the 2016 cultural festival in Shandong province. [Photo/sdswhtwx]

A stage play during the Shandong cultural festival in 2016. [Photo/sdswhtwx]