An opening ceremony themed "Artistic Performances and Cultural Yichang" kicked off in Yichang city, Hubei province, on Oct 16, marking the beginning of the fourth China (Yichang) Yangtze River Piano Music Festival and the first Yichang Arts Festival.

An opening ceremony is held on Oct 16, 2014, in Yichang city, Hubei province, for the fourth China (Yichang) Yangtze River Piano Music Festival and the first Yichang Arts Festival. [Photo taken by Xiao Yijiu]

The two festivals run from Oct 16 until Oct 31, including more than 20 free performances and activities, such as selections of the Yichang Wenhua Awards and Yichang Qunxing Awards, which reward theater programs, musicals, dancing and local opera performances. There will also be a piano concert that will attract over 3,000 piano lovers from home and abroad.

Art performances are staged at an opening ceremony for the fourth China (Yichang) Yangtze River Piano Music Festival in Yichang city, Hubei province, on Oct 16, 2014. [Photo taken by Xiao Yijiu]

The China Yichang Yangtze River Piano Music Festival is the largest music festival in the country, jointly sponsored by the Chinese Musicians Association and Yichang government and organized by Parsons Music Limited.

Yichang city in Hubei province is honored as a "Piano City" at an opening ceremony for the fourth China (Yichang) Yangtze River Piano Music Festival on Oct 16, 2014. [Photo taken by Xiao Yijiu]

As the country's biggest production base for pianos, Yichang was honored as a music city for piano during the opening ceremony. It will continue with efforts to build the world-class piano production base and push forward the integration of culture and tourism.