In addition, guests were also impressed by a cultural show featuring Chinese folk instruments, acrobatics, singing and dancing, all performed by renowned artists and distinguished young actors from Shandong province.

Ma Hongying, director of China Cultural Centre, said at the activity that it was a good opportunity for Singapore to cooperate with Shandong in holding its cultural year because the province is the birthplace of Confucius and Mencius as well as the cradle of Chinese traditional civilization.

China's ambassador to Singapore Chen Xiaodong also believed that the culture exchange would allow Singaporeans to better understand Qilu culture.

A group of musicians from Shandong province play traditional Chinese music at the 2016 China Shandong Cultural Year held in Singapore. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]