The biggest French arts festival outside of France, Festival Croisements, opened in Beijing on April 10, and will feature 160 performances in 23 Chinese cities from April to July.

It will showcase French literature, classic dance, operas and performances of music as well as avant-garde art forms including a multi-media interactive light show and a cartoon concert. The festival will end on July 3.

French film director Jean Jacques Annaud and Chen Qigang, Music Director of the Beijing Summer Olympics and who is active in France and China were invited to be its promotion ambassadors.

Starting in 2006, the event aims to further promote China-France cultural relations following the China France Culture Year (2003-2005), the official program between two countries.

By Dong Lin