Students from the Beijing Dance Academy perform Fen Mo, a dance drama, at a gala celebrating the 2018 Chinese Lunar New Year at the Konstantin Musical-dramatic Theater in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, Jan 28, 2018. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

On Sunday, a gala to celebrate the 2018 Chinese Lunar New Year was held at the Konstantin Musical-dramatic Theater in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria.

The gala featured a Chinese classical dance drama, Fen Mo, and a photo exhibition themed Chinese New Year.

Zhang Haizhou, Chinese ambassador to Bulgaria, and Ivanova, deputy mayor of Veliko Tarnovo, attended the event, along with other Chinese and Bulgarian officials.

Before the show, Zhang said cultural exchanges play an irreplaceable role in promoting the friendship between the two nations. Celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year creates an opportunity for the locals to learn more about Chinese culture.

Ivanova said this is the second time Veliko Tarnovo to hold Happy Chinese New Year celebrations. Veliko Tarnovo would like to organize more cultural activities to open a window towards China and further enhance the cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Presented by the students from Beijing Dance Academy, the dance drama has been staged in Bulgaria for twice.

During the photo exhibition, the guests experienced some traditional Chinese cultural activities, like paper-cutting, calligraphy, and Chinese knot tying.

The gala was supported by the China Culture Center in Sofia and the Confucius Institute in Veliko Tarnovo.

In February, more celebrations for the 2018 Happy Chinese New Year will be held in Sofia and Targovishte.