Soulful Sissi

[Photo provided to China Daily]

The power of live music will also be on display at the Meet in Beijing Arts Festival, with around 20 soloists from Budapest Gypsy Symphony Orchestra expected to play classical melodies, such as Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody, Mantovani's Spanish Gypsy Dance and Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dance No 5.

According to festival coordinator Mu Wen, the major annual cultural event's theme this year is Silk Road, following China's Belt and Road Initiative launched in 2013.

The festival runs through May 31, with more than 500 artists from 22 countries expected to give indoor and outdoor shows in the capital.

Many of the participating countries are related to the Belt and Road Initiative, including Hungary, says Mu.

"We hope the Chinese audiences will gain more knowledge about these countries through art."

If you go

7:30 pm, Thursday-Friday; 2 pm, Saturday. Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, 9 Tianqiao South Street, Xicheng district, Beijing. 400-635-3355.