The 2014 China (Zhangjiagang) Yangtze River Culture and Art Festival will start on Nov 1 and is set to continue with last year's highlight of frugality.

Unlike the magnificent and star-studded ceremonies of most international festivals, the festival will feature local drama performances to promote the city's special drama culture.

It's also lighter on budget, according to Sun Jianzhong, deputy chief of the festival organizing committee. The stage was decorated in a simple way. However, the festival will be more fabulous with enriched activities and performances, including the first Yangtze River xiaoxi (storytelling with songs and dances) and xiaopin (Chinese skit) exhibition and the Yangtze River folk art expo.

Another highlight for this year's festival will be an activity themed "Discover Relics in the Yangtze River Area" that invites art associations, organizations and individuals in the Yangtze River area to discover cultural relics about the river's history in an attempt to preserve and promote Yangtze River culture.