A band from Jeju performs at the opening gala. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

The festival partly overlaps with China's National Day holiday, so it is likely more citizens will attend the all-inclusive and family-friendly festival.

Six cultural exchange delegations have been sent from Ningbo to other culture cities of East Asia, Tokyo and Seoul. Japan and South Korea paid a return visit by sending six corresponding delegations. Ningbo will send another eight delegations by the end of 2016.