On the evening in Shanghai, lights glittering warmly in front of newly built Shanghai Culture Square, the curtains go up on the 13th China Shanghai International Arts Festival, which runs through November 18. Around 50 performances will be staged, including 21 original Chinese works.

The festival opens with an original dance drama, "The Goddess and the Dreamer" presented by the Zhengzhou Song and Dance Theater. It tells the story of Cao Zhi and Cao Pi, princes of the Kingdom Wei of during the Three Kingdoms Period (AD 220-280). It features traditional Chinese dance styles.

The original Chinese works will play a great role in this year's festival such as, opera "Red River Valley" presented by the China Opera and Dance Drama Theater with famous singer Yin Xiumei and Wei Song acting as leading roles, the stage play "A Charming Face among Peach Blossoms" by the Shanghai Drama Arts Center; a new Peking Opera "Peking Opera Actor Becomes Major General" and the Peking Opera and musical drama "Meng Xiaodong" by the Kuokuang Peking Opera Theater from Taiwan.

Two original Chinese works will have their world premieres - "The Nutcracker and the Dream on the Sea" and the original musical "The Broken Bridge.""The Broken Bridge" is a retelling of the "Madame White Snake" legend in which a benevolent snake sorceress falls in love with a mortal man. "The Nutcracker" is a very different retelling of the famous "Nutcracker" story.

World leading orchestras, bands, soloists, dances are preparing numerous music and dance gala to the audience with sir Simon Rattle conducing Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bejart Ballet Lausanne, the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra under the baton of David Zinman maestro violinist Perlman, pianist Murray Perahia, Italian pianist, Ludovico Einaudi, Hagen Quartet one of the most renowned quartets in Europe, Helmuth Rilling with his Stuttgart Bach Academy, Ricardo Muti with Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and many more!

Sixty-two originals by Picasso will be exhibited. Other exhibitions include sculpture and fresco highlights from the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, and contemporary Chinese calligraphy and ink-wash painting.

Furthermore, Performing Arts Fair attracting 1000+ representatives, public cultural activities presenting 3000+performances, festival forum, Germany Culture Week and Gansu Culture Week are in full swing.