Chinese kungfu and dance carnival kicks off

Thousands of artists are assembling in Hong Kong for a six-day event that blends dance and Chinese kungfu to highlight China's rich heritage of culture.

The Chinese Kungfu x Dance Carnival aims to help people develop a deeper appreciation of traditional Chinese culture through a variety of activities.

In a video message at the opening ceremony in Tsim Sha Tsui, Chief Executive John Lee described the carnival as one of the biggest events in Hong Kong this year.

He said the carnival uniquely combines martial arts and dance to showcase the charm of Chinese culture, adding that it serves as a platform to promote cultural exchanges between China and other countries.

Tang Ya, the founder of Tangya Arts Tech, which organizes the event, said she was delighted to bring together performers from around the world, adding that it was a demonstration of Hong Kong's strength as a center for cultural and artistic exchange between China and the rest of the world.

"We are delighted to have attracted 3,000 performers from Hong Kong, the mainland, Macau and more than 10 other countries around the world. They range from four-year-old children to an 82-year-old Tai Chi master from Japan and a 96-year-old Choy Li Fut martial arts master," she said.